HEIDELBERG — Students in the East Jasper School District remembered those who lost their lives eight years ago during what has become known as 9-11.

The America Reads Mississippi group of William J. Berry Elementary in Heidelberg hosted “The National Day of Service and Remembrance” Friday.

The program was designed to remember the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks that occurred on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and the crash of United Airlines Flight number 93.

A brief program was held inside the school followed by the release of balloons in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the attacks, which were a series of coordinated suicide attacks upon the United States.

Patricia Jones reminded and informed the elementary students that on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners. The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and many others working in the buildings. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., just outside of Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania, after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C. There were no survivors from any of the flights.

In total 2,993 people, including the hijackers, died in the attacks. The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians.

“We remember those who lost their lives and we also honor those volunteers who worked and helped those who were in desperate need,” Jones said.

Tonia Cooley with WJBES’ America Reads group — which includes Cooley, Jones, Katherine Rich and Curtistina Hardy — said the program was designed to inform students about the events of that day eight years ago.

WJBES Principal Dr. Nadene Arrington said the infamous day was revealing.

“It showed that no matter how strong we thought we were, evil was able to enter in,” she said. “Even when tragedy occurs, you find or discover new strength.”

Several community leaders also attended the event and encouraged the young people to remember the day by preparing for their future.

“9-11 was a very special day that we will never forget,” said Lt. Chris Sargent with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department. “We need to realize how blessed we are to be here today.”

Heidelberg Mayor Juan Barnett agreed.

“It was a sad day. It was troubled times for us,” he said. “We were invaded by our enemies.

“You, as young people are also being invaded by your enemies,” he continued. “Your enemies are those who don’t want you to succeed.”

Heidelberg Police Chief Prentiss Henley said the events of 9-11 affected people throughout the United States and abroad, especially law enforcement and emergency personnel who sometime battle life-threatening conditions daily.

“Those police and fire officials were like family to us,” he said. “We lost people who were a part of our family. ... We lost a lot of good people. They died doing their jobs.”

Jasper County Supervisor Curtis Gray concurred, adding that he commended the school administration for “remembering those who lost their lives and working to make sure that today’s young people know what happened.”

Sixth grader Katoria Terrell said the program was “exciting and informing.”

Fifth graders Keyara Jones, Ebony Shelby, Daviyon Ryans and Tarvoris Plummer said they learned from the event.

“I now know the importance of that day,” Shelby, 10, said.

“I learned about the crash and how some people in the military and the Pentagon and others died,” Ryans said. “I also learned that sometimes tragedy happens.”

Plummer agreed that 9-11 was a “tragic day.”

“The program taught me that it was a tragedy,” Plummer said. “We also should learn from the event because we learned that we should stick together when tragic things happen.”

Barnett encouraged the young people to learn from the experience.

“We are faced with attacks everyday,” the mayor said. “Just like we pulled together on that day, I am encouraging you to pull together as friends and help each other now.”

A balloon release followed the program in remembrance of all those who lost their lives and those who worked as volunteers during the time after the attacks.