Spring Break
The Daily OrangeIn remembrance students recall their reasons for enlisting in the military
By Sarah Jane Capper
Posted: 9/10/09, 1:08 AM EST Section: Feature
On Sept. 11, 2001, Michelle Revoir was sitting in her high school math class when she learned that school would close early.
"I got home and my sister was bawling," Revoir said. "She told me. I lost it and started crying."
Revoir said she was scared that her dad, a Marine, would go back to war and she was shocked by what had happened, especially because she lived in New Jersey, close to New York City.
But the events didn't just affect her emotionally. They helped spark action, Revoir said.
She eventually enlisted in the United States Air Force. "We lost a lot of people from my hometown, so I think that definitely had an impact," said Revoir, now a Senior Airman in the U.S. Air Force and participant in the Military Motion Media program at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Growing up in a military family was also a major contributing factor to Revoir's decision, she said. For many of those in the military during Sept. 11, the event strengthened their desire to serve their country.
Nancy Austin has worked with military students for 17 years in the Military Visual Journalism Program at Newhouse - a program that helps military personnel with media jobs refine their skills. She said many military students wanted to return to be with their units after they learned of the Sept. 11 attacks. "They helped a lot of regular students who didn't understand what was going on and were scared," said Austin.
Robbie Arp, now an Air Force staff sergeant and participant in the Military Motion Media program, said Sept. 11 also influenced his decision to join the military, in combination with other factors. Arp said he was filled with disbelief when he saw what had happened while watching TV in his bed. His day was filled with phone calls to friends and family to discuss the attacks and keep each other updated.
"This is our country," said Arp. "I think it's our duty to step up as citizens. After that happened, it gave us a reason to fight."
"I got home and my sister was bawling," Revoir said. "She told me. I lost it and started crying."
Revoir said she was scared that her dad, a Marine, would go back to war and she was shocked by what had happened, especially because she lived in New Jersey, close to New York City.
But the events didn't just affect her emotionally. They helped spark action, Revoir said.
She eventually enlisted in the United States Air Force. "We lost a lot of people from my hometown, so I think that definitely had an impact," said Revoir, now a Senior Airman in the U.S. Air Force and participant in the Military Motion Media program at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Growing up in a military family was also a major contributing factor to Revoir's decision, she said. For many of those in the military during Sept. 11, the event strengthened their desire to serve their country.
Nancy Austin has worked with military students for 17 years in the Military Visual Journalism Program at Newhouse - a program that helps military personnel with media jobs refine their skills. She said many military students wanted to return to be with their units after they learned of the Sept. 11 attacks. "They helped a lot of regular students who didn't understand what was going on and were scared," said Austin.
Robbie Arp, now an Air Force staff sergeant and participant in the Military Motion Media program, said Sept. 11 also influenced his decision to join the military, in combination with other factors. Arp said he was filled with disbelief when he saw what had happened while watching TV in his bed. His day was filled with phone calls to friends and family to discuss the attacks and keep each other updated.
"This is our country," said Arp. "I think it's our duty to step up as citizens. After that happened, it gave us a reason to fight."
Be the first to comment on this story