TEXARKANA, Ark. - What initially looked like an accident when the first passenger plane struck the World Trade Center buildings nearly 20 year ago was soon known not to be an accident when the second plane hit.
With the airlines industry being so impacted by the 9/11 terrorists attacks during the last two decades, Paul Mehrlich, Texarkana Regional Airport executive director of aviation, said he will deliver a non-public presentation memorializing the attack, starting at 7:46 a.m. this Saturday at the Airport's passenger terminal.
Texarkana Regional Airport
Mehrlich said his presentation will start being recorded at exactly at 7:46 a.m. - the time the airliner struck the WTC, Sept. 11, 2001.
Once complete, the recorded presentation will be up-loaded on the airport's Facebook Page, where the public also can view it.
Mehrlich said his reasons for making the presentation was not only to memorialize all the innocent victims killed in the attack, but also to show how it changed the airlines industry forever.
"I was in high school at the time of the attack," he said. "This lead me to move on to another high school, where I could join a U.S Air Force R.O.T.C."
Upon finishing high school, Mehrlich would eventually go on to join the U.S. Navy in 2009 and participate in supporting U.S. military operations conducted in the War on Terrorism.
"This attack not only directly affected the American Airlines company, which still operates out of our airport, but the U.S. Transportation Safety Agency also got established as a ongoing tenant here," Mehrlich said. "Now it's a completely changed airport with more security and it put me on the path of where I am today."
Arkansas Welcome Center
A 9/11 memorial ceremony will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Arkansas Welcome Center, 10000 Interstate 30 East.
"It is something we always need to remember so we don't forget," said Ken Summers of the Marine Corps League Texarkana Detachment 1149.
Those attending are asked to gather at the flag pole.
The welcome center's flag will be lowered, raised and then brought to half mast.
This will be followed with three volleys of M1 Garand rifle, which is similar to a 21-gun salute, Summers said.
The ceremony is expected to last between 20 minutes and an hour.
The Marine Corps League conducts the event annually and also at the funerals of veterans.
This is the first time the memorial ceremony has been held at the welcome center.
The memorial ceremony is open to the public. Arkansas transportation and tourism officials are also expected to attend, Summers said.
Texarkana College
Texarkana College students, faculty and staff can place a flag in the grassy area surrounding the campus' World War II memorial to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11.
The flags are located in baskets next to the memorial, along with a sign displayed in remembrance of 9/11.
(Christy Busby Worsham contributed to this story.)