Houstonian recalls 9/11 spent with President Bush

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houstonian Terry Abbott had a front row seat to history on September 11, 2001, traveling with President Bush as he visited a Florida elementary that morning of the attacks.

Abbott was the Chief of Staff for Education Secretary Rod Paige 15 years ago.

"They started moving the president very quickly into the school, and I was just a few steps behind him, and somebody said, 'Hey did you hear what happened?'" said Abbott.

After a brief time with students, Abbott was there as the president made his first statement: "He looked right into the camera and said, 'Terrorism will not stand.'"

Abbott is concerned the lessons which began at that Florida school might be forgotten by a new generation.

"When I teach a class on 9/11, I will go in and ask a simple question: 'Who attacked us?' And I'm always amazed at how often they get that wrong," said Abbott.

UH professor Donna Amstberg trains social workers. She says it remains to be seen exactly what a younger generation that doesn't have a personal recollection of 9/11 will take away from the events of that day.

"This is an event which is still very much being played out in the national media as far as our upcoming election for president," said Amtsberg. "I think it's still yet to be fully written."

With the younger generation in mind, Abbott shares his own memories of that terrible day.

"That's the thing I worry about, kids now, in high school now, who will be our leaders in a few years, they have no personal memory of 9/11, it is simply to them a page in history books."