I dusted off some old newspapers this weekend.

The front page of the Sept. 12, 2001, edition of USA Today announced in giant letters: "Act of war," "Terrorists strike; death toll 'horrendous.'" A photo nearly fills the front page, showing debris and flames exploding from a World Trade Center tower as a hijacked jetliner slams into the building.

The Spokesman-Review placed the previous day's losses in a historical light: "A NEW DAY OF INFAMY."

Inside the papers, saved from five years ago, pictures capture Americans throughout the county in mourning. The New York skyline is shown shrouded in smoke and dust. Stadiums stand empty as professional sporting events are canceled.

Articles tell of airline passengers aboard doomed planes, making heart-breaking, last-minute phone calls to loved ones. Other articles site experts who claim terrorists trained to fly the hijacked planes. Many blame Osama bin Laden.

Iraqis and Palestinians celebrate, while many other nations — including Russia, France, Libya and Iran — express regret and offer help.

For me, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks, interrupted a life that was too care-free. I was humbled and matured by the events of that day.

My "normal," self-centered life became my past. The future seemed uncertain, even scary. The past and future were severed by toppled skyscrapers, a burning Pentagon, and the wreckage of a commercial jetliner in a Pennsylvania field.

I woke up that day, giving no thought to security. I was in a quiet, Spokane neighborhood, under a blue sky and warm sun. More than a week remained of my summer vacation from college.

My roommates called from work. They said "turn on the TV." I did.

Seeing the images, my first thought was "this changes everything." I then wondered, "What's next?"

I've always heard people say they remember where they were and what they were doing when former President John F. Kennedy was shot dead. It changed their lives and the country. I knew Sept. 11 would be the same for me.

I had no idea, though, how clearly, I would remember the way I felt five years ago.

I watched TV news for several days. I felt sad. Thousands of innocent Americans died. I felt angry.

I'll never forget the people who jumped from the burning World Trade Center towers, or the images of people clinging from the buildings' shattered, smoke-filled windows. They faced the unimaginable, and then died.

I'll continue to save those newspapers, which record a historic day. I never want to forget how I felt. By reading them, I can remember better.

Today, a full five years later, I'll be attending the Patriot Day ceremony in Ephrata, at the courthouse.

While I stand there silently, among my fellow Americans, I'll be sad. My heart heavy, I'll remember the hundreds of police and firefighters who died. Those heroes tried to save others as the buildings crumbled. I'll be thinking of all the victims.

I'll feel anger, again.

But mostly, I'll feel patriotic, knowing the tragedy united us all, as Americans, regardless of political party, race or class.

"Senators and House members, Democrats and Republicans will stand shoulder-to-shoulder to fight this evil that has been perpetrated against this nation," House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill, said in one article.

I hope we never forget how united we felt. I won't.

David Cole is the county reporter for the Columbia Basin Herald.