9/11 Anniversary: National Tragedy, Local Stories

I was walking in between classes.

My friend was called to the principal's office. Not because he was in trouble, but because his mother was there to take him home. The news hadn't spread yet, that planes were crashing into buildings and that thousands of people were dying.

After all, we were only in eighth grade. We didn't have cell phones, and Twitter didn't exist yet. The teachers knew what was happening, but they didn't want to turn on the few TVs we had throughout my small Catholic school.

Almost 10 years later, the memories of that day will last forever, no matter how mundane. I spent another nine years since walking between classes. I can't remember all the classes, let alone the walks in between, but I'll always remember that time.

This week, we will tell the stories of some New Lenox residents and how 9/11 impacted their lives, whether its the soldier whose parents begged him not to enlist, or the West Point grad who will cycle from Ground Zero to the Pentagon to raise money for wounded troops.

If you have stories or memories about how 9/11 impacted you, tell us in the comments or share them on our Facebook page.When Osama bin Laden was killed in May, readers , and what they were doing when they heard the terrible news.

On Sunday, join your fellow residents for a remembrance ceremony. It's at 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Fireman's Memorial on the .