History teacher has kept the memory of 911 alive for 16 years

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Each year, for the past 16 years, Helias Catholic High School history teacher Coach Victor Bell has taught students the events that took place on 9/11, emphasizing how it shaped the United States.

Many of his students do not have a personal memory of the event. Bell outlines the events that took place before, during and after, to help keep the memory alive.

"I try to give an overview and a context of terrorism against the United States and ... it has even a timeline dealing with attacks on U.S. soil and we kind of ... take them on a journey leading into Sept. 11," Bell said.

Like many adults, Bell remembers every moment of Sept. 11, 2001, from start to finish.

Bell said he tries to be as thorough as possible when teaching his students and outlines the ways 9/11 affected the United States.

"As many ways as you can put a grasp on them of that situation, how it touched people personally, how it fits within history, and then how it fits within our government especially with the focus on the military," Bell said.

Bell said he tries to make each lesson a safe space for students to ask questions and have open discussions. He said his lessons last around 15-20 minutes, to not overwhelm the students and keep their attention. He teaches his students about the darkness of Sept. 11, but also sheds light on how it brought people together.

"Sept. 11 was dark... but I don't remember that being the image of that, I remember first responders being extremely heroic. Like there was this moment when we were just unified under it and trying to show empathy to one another and how they were impacted," Bell said.