Laura Christensen’s heart skipped a beat when she walked into chemistry class two years ago at Free State High School.

It was in that second-hour class on Sept. 11, 2001, that Christensen learned a harsh lesson about how the struggles of people thousands of miles from the United States could place in peril those living in this country.

“Sept. 11 is like the day Kennedy was assassinated. Everyone knows where they were,” said Christensen, now a senior at Free State.

She said the devastating assault that killed more than 3,000 people in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., shouldn’t obstruct the aspirations of Americans.

“We don’t want to be hurt by it, but we want to remember,” Christensen said.

The Lawrence school district didn’t organize a unified ceremony Thursday on what has been christened Patriot Day by President Bush. American and state flags were lowered for the day.

“Most of our schools are doing some form of remembrance,” Supt. Randy Weseman said.

Recognition of the anniversary was generally left up to individual teachers.

LHS junior Krista Cox-Velasquez said the fact that Thursday was her grandmother’s birthday resonated more with her than the anniversary of the attacks.

But she said one outcome of the assaults, U.S. soldiers sent to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq, weighed heavily on her mind.

“It’s a waste of time, money and lives,” she said.

LHS junior Michael Jordan, who watched the tragedy unfold on television while at school two years ago, said the crisis was a learning experience for Americans, especially those directly affected by the attacks.

“They know how to deal with tragedy,” Jordan said.

¢ 6News video: Hundreds of new citizens are sworn in on 9-11¢ 6News video: Church services help some deal with confusion about 9-11¢ 6News video: Boy scouts gather to lower flags to half-mastRelated stories:¢ Lawrence teens wrestle with fallout from attacks¢ 6News video: Lawrence students recall 9-11¢ Children lead remembrance¢ Sebelius cites service at anniversary eventRemembering 9-11¢Stories, video reports¢Photo galleries¢Postcards of Change