By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Emergency responders and volunteers in Jefferson City marked the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the South Lawn of the State Capitol Building.
Vendors handed out free food, soft drinks and information about their services to passersby as state officials talked about the importance of service and of remembering the victims of 9/11.
Lt. Governor Peter Kinder emphasized that Patriots Day day should primarily be a day of remembrance.
"We were attacked in an unprovoked surprise attack, a terror attack...these were innocent Americans, Canadians, French, citizens of the U.K. and citizens of the world," Kinder said.
Governor Jay Nixon says he was walking through his house that day when he first heard about the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. He calls it the Pearl Harbor moment of our generation.
"I think every American remembers not only that moment where they were, but that entire day, and it has clearly changed the way we think about our personal safety, about our national safety...it's changed the way that our military operates," Nixon said.
Nixon added that Missourians should both remember that day and pray for the troops currently in harm's way.