Effects of the tragedy linger

Click to Enlarge Cherri Wall of the Exchange Club of Greeley helps attach names to flags at the Healing Field display. Wall was at the display at Aims Community College on Friday. HILLARY WHEAT / hwheat@greeleytribune.com Browse Our Galleries

Corey Reynolds
September 11, 2006

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Cindy Shrout cherishes the people in her life, and she makes sure they know that. As Sept. 11 taught everyone, everything can change in a blink.

The way of life for most Americans changed after terrorists attacked the United States five years ago by a team of 19 terrorists who killed nearly 3,000 people and injured hundreds more.

For some, these changes meant praying more, flying the flag, or just simply saying, "I love you."

"When you love somebody, you tell them now," said Shrout, a secretary at Greeley's Crossroads Christian Church.

For others, the attacks meant more anxiety, fear and an increased awareness of the not-so-friendly world.

These feelings are still evident, and experts say that's because of a change in the way Americans view the world.

"There has been a return to the sort of Cold War mentality that there are people out there who don't like the United States," said Michael Kanner, a political science instructor at the University of Colorado and a retired intelligence officer with the U.S. Army. "People have realized that not everybody sees the world the same."

The attacks were a wake-up call, Kanner said, literally for those who awoke to commercial jet-liners crashing into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.

"We lost our sense of security," said Betty Hoffner of Greeley, a volunteer with the Greeley Exchange's Healing Field exhibit at Aims Community College. "We never thought we'd be attacked ... until we were."

Joan Huebl, a Greeley psychologist, said in the time since the attacks, more people have shown symptoms of depression and anxiety, and not just in those serving in the military and their family members.

"For everyone, there was this notion of being safe, and 9/11 told us we aren't," she said. "That takes a considerable toll on how people feel about their daily life."

Huebl said she still worries about cases of post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychological condition that often follows a traumatic event. Those directly affected by the attacks aren't the only ones who suffer from the disorder, she said. The people harmed in the attacks are "just like us, only they happened to be in the wrong place," she said, so it is possible for any American to be suffering from the condition.

Despite the horror and feelings of disbelief, for many of those who watched the news coverage in their middle or high school classrooms, that infamous day brought about a sense of patriotism.

"I'm more proud to be an American," said Amber Scott, now a freshman at Aims.

Five years later, the images of the planes crashing into the towers are displayed on television again. And Scott's focus -- like that of many Americans -- is again on the attacks.

Anniversaries of traumatic events, such as Sept. 11 or the death of a family member, often bring back very powerful feelings. Huebl's advice is for people to do something to honor the victims of the attacks and to talk to friends and family.

"As an outcome of Sept. 11, there's a greater value of family and friends," she said. "I would encourage people to spend their time with people who are important to them."

And, as Shrout said, make sure to say you love them.

LASTING EFFECTS

« 17 percent of Americans showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after the attacks.

«There was a 49 percent increase in the number of attempted suicides in the two years after Sept. 11 attributed to the chronic stress associated with the attacks.

«50 percent of Americans and 65 percent of parents are concerned that members of their family will experience fear and distress about the threat of terrorism.

Source: National Mental Health Association

CALL TO DUTY

Many Americans, reacting to this loss of perceived security, viewed the terrorist attacks as a call to serve the country they love. There was more activity at the nation's armed forces recruiting stations after the attacks, especially in Greeley. The city's U.S Army recruiting station saw a 25 percent increase in the number of enlistments in the year following the attacks, according to Debbie Cannon, public affairs chief at the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion in Denver.