Bobby Parnell remembers the morning vividly.
He had just started his senior year at East Rowan High School in Salisbury, North Carolina, which is about 40 minutes outside of Charlotte. He was sitting in English class on what was a “normal” September morning.
He recalled a couple teachers scrambling and talking with one another rather frantically before one of them wheeled in a TV set that sat on top of a cart with shelves.
The teachers explained the situation and then turned on the TV to show the North Tower smoldering. He and his classmates were stunned as they watched what unfolded.