Knoxville remembers 9/11 terror attacks [The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.]

Sept. 11--KNOXVILLE -- Pat Lenoir's son John Robinson "Rob" Lenoir died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in New York City.

Sitting with others at the 9/11 memorial service at the City-County Building, she reflected on the 12 years that have passed since her son died.

She said one "reality check" for her is seeing her son's children, who were 9 and 11 at the time, are 21 and 23 now.

"To watch the children of 9/11 victims is to see how time has passed," she said. "Time does take away the raw edges of emotion. There's a healing process. It is definitely difficult. Time helps, but you can never forget your oldest child."

Rob Lenoir's sister, Kate Lenoir, said one of her fondest memories was when he graduated from Duke and came home one summer.

"We would stay up late and watch 'Cheers' on television," she said. "I still can't listen to that theme song after 12 years. It's hard."

Brenda Vandever, sister of New York City 9/11 victim William Anthony "Tony" Karnes, was also at the City-County Building on Wednesday morning and said seeing news reports showing the twin World Trade Center towers falling is difficult to watch.

"The worst part was not knowing where he was and did he know he was going to die," she said.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said he was friends with Tony Karnes and worked with him in the insurance business.

"He was a wonderful guy," the mayor said after the event. "It rips your heart out. There's no healing."

Pam Neal, the Knoxville Police Department chaplain, began the service.

"As we think about that day, we think about those who lost their lives that day," she said.

Knox County Sheriff's Office Chaplain Mark Steimer read the names of the three victims who died in the attacks who had local ties: Rob Lenoir, Tony Karnes and Timothy Aaron Haviland.

A moment of silence was held in their memory, and Lt. Vince Ayub with the Knoxville Police Department played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes before both Burchett and Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero placed a wreath in front of a permanent 9/11 memorial on the front lawn of the City-County Building.

Rogero said it is appropriate to remember not only those civilians who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks, but also those rescue personnel who gave their lives trying to save the civilians.

The mayor said emergency services personnel in Knoxville display the same commitment as those rescue personnel did on Sept. 11, 2001.

"They never know what will face them when they leave home," she said. "We should reflect on these individuals who are called to the same duty here in Knoxville."

Other events planned to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks include:

4-7 p.m. -- Clydesdales Tribute Event, Food City No. 682, 7608 Mountain Grove Drive. Anheuser-Busch Budweiser Clydesdales will be at the 9/11 tribute event hosted by Food City. Members of the military, local firefighters, police officers and first responders will there as well.

Sept. 16., 5:30 p.m. -- 9/11 Memorial designer lecture, University of Tennessee's Art and Architecture Building, 1715 Volunteer Blvd.Peter Walker, the landscape architect who designed the National September 11 Memorial, will kick off the Robert B. Church III Memorial Lecture Series, which is free and open to the public.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.

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