MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Chennault Aviation and Military Museum held a 9/11 remembrance event Friday morning.

Museum Director Nell Calloway says it is very important to remind and teach the community about what occurred a quarter of a century ago.

“A third of our country of the United States were not born 25 years ago,” Calloway said. “So it’s important that they understand if they don’t remember history, it can repeat itself. So we can repeat it in the way that we’re not prepared. Then, but if we know history, then we remember what it took to come together.”

The keynote speaker was retired Command Sergeant Major Connie Freeman who served in the U.S. Military during the 9/11 attacks and her service would immediately change forever.

“About a month later, they started sending anthrax through the mail,” Freeman said. “So I was with a postal unit up there. My postal unit, some of the soldiers had to go down to the distribution center in Washington, DC to help sort the mail because they were getting behind. So that’s basically our part with it. Then four years later, I wound up in Iraq.”

Freeman says the effects of that day are still being felt today by her and others.

“9/11 has always had an impact on me because of the number of people that died during that time,” Freeman said. “We still have people dying from cancer and respiratory issues from that event. So it’s really not over for them. Family members are still going through it. So we should remember those people and pray, pray, pray.”