"I remember walking into one of my classes as the second plane hit and the sheer terror on everyone's faces," Michael Hockenbarger, THS senior, said.

"I was young but I was still really shocked, something like that could happen to America, it made me feel insecure," Michael Emery, THS sophomore, said.

"I was getting ready for school and my dad came and told me and I sat down and watched the news. We sat at home all day and watched TV about it," Shelby Schrope, THS sophomore, said.

To ring in the 5th anniversary of the September 11th attacks Topeka High students and ROTC members stood around Constitution Plaza to reflect on the impact 9-11 had in our country.

"It's a patriotic day and it's to remember the people that died five years ago," Jerry Anderson said.

Anderson tickles the ivory at the high school, as chimes played patriotic tunes througout the morning. A Topeka High alum himself, Anderson was called to duty five years ago. "I was at work and I saw what was happening on TV and I got called down here to play the chimes in support of the nation."

At Quinton Heights, students and staff began the day with a memorial assembly.

Five years ago USD 501Superintendent Tony Sawyer was a superintendent in New York. Some of his schools were only blocks away from the twin towers. He described how the students reacted to the scene. "They looked up at the fire too. And some of them thought they saw birds flying. Literally we had children say- look at the birds flying out of the building. Those weren't really birds, those were people," Sawyer said.

The ceremony also honored representatives from the Topeka's police and fire departments.

Heritage Christian School also held a memorial service this morning. They honored those who lost their lives in the 9-11 attacks, and those who have died fighting the war on terror.