ELKINS — As the country remembers the events of Sept. 11, 2001, local residents recall what they experienced 24 years ago today and how it changed their lives.

The deadly terrorist attacks on 9/11 that killed around 2,977 people. While the terrorist events of that day occurred in New York City, Arlington, Virginia and rural Pennsylvania, the attacks still left an impact on local West Virginians.

“I know that for anyone that served during the Global War on Terrorism, it’s definitely a day that… changed our lives,” Donald Lambert, Vice Commander of the American Legion Department of West Virginia, told The Inter-Mountain. “I know it definitely changed mine.”

Lambert, who was 6 years old when the attacks occurred, explained that watching the incident and the aftermath on television changed the trajectory of his life.

“Before 9/11 all I wanted to be was a city cop, and watching that unfold on television, I kind of changed my mind on what I wanted to be,” Lambert said. 

After graduating from Elkins High School in 2014, Lambert enlisted in the United States Air Force and has been stationed at the 130th Airlift Wing Force Support Squadron in Charleston, where he holds the rank of Technical Sergeant.

Vietnam Vet Association Chapter 812 President John Miller recalled that he was just about to leave for work at the Huttonsville Correctional Facility when the attacks occurred. Miller’s time in the military had just ended that March.

“You really can’t explain the feelings that happen or what you feel because you know our country was attacked by terrorists,” John Miller told The Inter-Mountain. “As a civilian, there’s nothing you can do if you’re not there. You can’t help. You can’t be there… it was a wakening.”

For John Miller, the attacks impacted his family as well, with his brother, who was in the National Guard, being sent to Kuwait, and his son serving in Iraq.

Randolph County Office of Emergency Management Director Mike Miller was a firefighter in the area in 2001. He recalled how, even in Randolph County, emergency responders had to prepare in the event of a possible attack in West Virginia.

“As a fire department, we got called out to just kind of see what these airplanes were doing in the sky,” Mike Miller told The Inter-Mountain. “Just staying prepared in case something would happen around here. Good thing we were lucky.”

“It’s a day people shouldn’t forget, and I feel like people are starting to forget about it,” Lambert said. “I feel like it’s one of those days that really brought the country closer together. I feel like people really shouldn’t forget about it, honestly. It’s what changed a lot of people’s lives.”

Lambert said he has been wanting to start holding annual remembrance events for Sept. 11 through the American Legion, but explained that it has been hard to plan due to the Legion’s already full workload.

“I’d love to (have an event). I’d really like to start doing a remembrance, but the Legion hasn’t been able to find someone that can dedicate the time to do it,” Lambert said.

Lambert did state, however, that the Legion will be planning an event for 2026, the 25th anniversary of the attacks.