On Saturday, nine years will have passed since the terrorists attacks on the United States.

The date Sept. 11, 2001 now lives on in the minds of Americans as the day 2,977 men, women and children were killed when the nation was attacked on home soil.

“President Roosevelt called Sept. 7, 1941 the day that would live in infamy,” said Lanier Swafford, chief of Dawson County Emergency Services, referring to Pearl Harbor. “And for his generation he was correct. For our generation that’s true with Sept. 11.”

Dawson County Sheriff’s Chaplain Chad Rogers said the day’s events changed the nation.

“There was so much uncertainty that everybody literally was gripped with fear. They didn’t know what was going to happen tomorrow and the next day,” he said.

Swafford calls the day’s events “memories etched in your mind that you’ll never forget.”

The number of deaths included 343 New York firefighters.

“To realize they gave the ultimate sacrifice that day, and since that time I’ve saw a number that survived that tragedy speak and to hear their story and to see the emotion that event has caused on their lives ... I think is important for us as a service to remember those each year.”

Nine years after the day, the revival of patriotism that developed after the events is still alive, Rogers said.

“It just instilled the sacrifice and the price that was paid so we could enjoy freedom,” he said. “The war on terrorism is going to be a plague we’re going to have to fight for years to come, but patriotism will continue.”

A 9-11 remembrance service is planned at 9 a.m. Friday at the Dawson County Law Enforcement Center.

Local scouts  also have a service planned at 8:46 a.m. Saturday at Dawson County Emergency Services Station 1 on Memorial Drive, Dawsonville.

Scouts are asked to wear their uniforms. All others are encouraged to wear red, white and blue to show support and bring can goods that will be donated to the local food pantry.