Most of us remember where we were and what we were doing the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. It's a day etched in our minds, like the attack on Pearl Harbor is etched in the minds of those who lived then. That, of course, is the day we watched as our country came under attack.

The World Trade Center buildings in New York practically melted to the ground, bringing tons of rubble crashing down on those inside. This was followed by another attack at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a probable third attack was avoided when passengers of a commercial airline flight prevented terrorists from overtaking a plane that crashed into a Pennsylvania field.

Naval Air Station Meridian hosted its longstanding POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony that doubled as a 9/11 Commemoration.

Newton James Duke, of Aberdeen, Miss., attended the ceremony to tell the story of his capture, treatment, and during the Korean War. CPL Duke was taken prisoner May 18, 1951, after a 3-day battle by Chinese forces during the Chines and North Korean Spring Counter Offensive on the "No Name Line". He was held for more than two years.

"Now and then, I think the younger people here in the United States need to hear stories of what we went through," said Duke. "It makes feel good now, to get it out where people can hear it. When I came home, I didn't have a hard feeling against anybody. I came home, and I took my responsibility. I got me a job and raised my family the best I could. I thought that's what I was supposed to do."

"I think it's important to step back and take time out of your day to remember the events of 9/11," said NAS commander, Capt. Charlie Gibson. "We combined it with the POW/MIA ceremony, so we had a combination of two things. But it's always important to remember the veterans and the sacrifices that our prisoner of war folks made, and also to remember the missing in action from various conflicts."

The ceremony concluded with "Amazing Grace" played on bagpipes, as well as a 21-gun salute followed by the playing of Taps and a jet fly-over.