Where were you, eleven years ago? What were you doing when terrorists attacked the United States? Our Erin Vannella talked to some elementary school students about what the 9/11 anniversary means to them.

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- "The twin towers collapsed," said Pine Hills Elementary School third grader Ayanna Bing.

"All the people died and how it crashed into the octagon," said Pine Hills Elementary School third grader Travis Sitterly.

"We helped them and that they gave up their lives to save others," said Pine Hills Elementary School third grader Nyla Barrow.

Third graders weren't born September 11th, 2001. Eleven years later to the day, they get a history lesson.

"I can't believe that I have this experience that they never have and it really wasn't that long ago," said Pine Hills Elementary School teacher Michelle Lee. "So I think it's really important for them to learn it while it's still kind of relevant to them."

So Lee asked her students to share words and feelings they associate with pictures and stories they've heard about that day. To see photographs she said is one thing. To talk about it, moves them.

"My eyes will start getting watery," said Barrow. "I feel bad how they helped them but the people that planned it? Whew, yeah."

To see their smiles fade to sympathy and faces harden with pride is Lee's mark of success. Learning what 9/11 was is about remembering lives lost, she said. It's about understanding why our shoulders still fight and how important it is as eight year-olds to accept people's differences and respect the feelings of those who live with that tragic day always heavy in their hearts.

"My eyes are just going to get watery probably," said Barrow. "It's just sad, how people gave up their lives for helping them."

"It's kind of hard to remember them but that's why now we can remember," said Bing. "That's why we say the pledge."