Remembering Sept. 11 in Lake Forest

When the Twin Towers fell Sept. 11, 2001, Andrew TePas was in fourth grade.

The magnitude of the events didn't click until he got to school that day, but when he did, it set him on his current path in life.

TePas, a 2010 graduate of El Toro High School, joined the Army directly after graduation.

"[9/11] made me want to be more of a defensive part of this country ... a protector," the 19-year-old said. "It's one of the reasons I joined."

The El Toro alum recently returned to Lake Forest from 15 weeks in Fort Sill, OK, where he trained as a weapons/cannon specialist with the field artillery branch of the Army.

His tumultuous learning experience in the military has sharpened his focus and prepared him for duty, he said.

As he flew through Dallas on the return trip from training in Oklahoma, TePas said, the passengers on the plane found out that he is in the military and thanked him effusively as he walked down the aisle.

The inspiring moment "reminded me what I was fighting for," he said recently at the Army recruiting station in Lake Forest, where he is spending time as he awaits his next assignment.

He recalls his time on the El Toro High Drumline as a precursor to his interest in joining the military, which was initially inspired by family members who had served in the Army.

The 19-year-old has been assigned to duty in Germany, where he expects to be for the next two to three years.

What does the 10th anniversary of the attacks mean to TePas?

"I'm leaving on that day for Germany," he said simply.

As we approach the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, many of us, like Andrew, have stories to tell about how it changed our lives.

What's yours?

Many activities are scheduled around Southern California and in Orange County to observe the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.

Remembrance ceremonies are scheduled nationwide to remember those who died and suffered losses.

A is one of the many local tributes planned.

That fateful day altered reality for citizens, our political system, the economy and our nation as a whole. How did it impact you?

Where were you on 9/11? How do you plan to explain it to your children if they are too young to remember it?

Tell us in the comments, below, or e-mail me at Sarah.deCrescenzo@patch.com. We want to hear your story.

If you want to join a national remembrance effort, check out ActionAmerica.com to tell the country how you're taking positive action in Lake Forest. To access Action America, click here.