At 7:46 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, Birmingham‑Shuttlesworth International Airport paused its daily operations for a moment of silence. The timing matched the exact moment the first plane struck the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, allowing travelers, tenants, visitors and airport staff to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost.
Wreath and tribute display
Airport officials erected a wreath in the main terminal and set up a small exhibit featuring a pair of boots and a helmet. The display was intended to symbolize the first responders who rushed to the scene in New York and continued their heroic work in the weeks and months that followed.
Personal reflections from airport leadership
Ronald F. Mathieu, president and CEO of the Birmingham Airport Authority, shared why the anniversary holds special meaning for him. “I lost friends and business associates whose offices were in the World Trade Center,” Mathieu said. “But more importantly, children lost mothers and fathers, parents lost children, and the pain and sorrow of it all is something you never forget.”
Security evolution highlighted
The ceremony also served as a reminder of how air travel and airport security have changed since 2001. Mathieu noted that security has become a regular part of the modern travel experience and continues to evolve. The Birmingham Airport Authority works closely with the Transportation Security Administration, Birmingham Police, Birmingham Fire & Rescue and other law‑enforcement partners to keep the airport safe.
“Airport security is still evolving and has become a part of the travel experience,” Mathieu said.
Part of a broader statewide remembrance
The Birmingham tribute was one of many observances across Alabama and the nation on Thursday. Communities from small towns to major cities gathered to honor the victims and to reflect on the resilience of the American people.
Looking forward
While the moment of silence was brief, the impact of the day’s remembrance is expected to linger. Airport officials hope the ceremony reinforces the importance of vigilance, gratitude for first responders, and the shared commitment to safety that defines modern air travel.
Travelers departing Birmingham‑Shuttlesworth International Airport later that morning continued their journeys with a renewed sense of purpose, carrying with them the memory of those who perished and the resolve to keep America’s skies secure.
Original reporting: The Tuscaloosa Thread — read the source article.
