ST. PAUL, Minn. - Most everyone remembers where they were September 11th, 2001 but as the years pass, will those memories of that dark day pass as well?
"There will be generations born that this will have no meaning to whatsoever," said Historian Brian Horrigan.
Horrigan, who teaches a class on memorials and is the curator at Minnesota Historical Society, believes as much as our country wants to never forget, judging by history chances are it will.
"All of these monuments are being put up saying, lest we forget. Well people are going to forget. That's just the way generations work," said Horrigan.
He said it was the same way after Pearl Harbor, which is now remembered in museums like at the historical society in St. Paul.
In fact, Horrigan questions if the tributes were as frequent in 1952 for Pearl Harbor as they are now for 9/11.
"People had moved on, people wanted to move on after World War II was over," he said.
Unless you lost loved ones that horrible day on September 11th, 2001, it seems the country as a whole maybe starting to move on too.
Manhattan's hometown papers, the New York Times and the New York Post made no mention of 9/11 on their front pages. And the Wall Street Journal only had a small ad referencing the day's significance.
"I had forgotten it was 9/11 today. I hadn't even looked on a calendar to put it together," said Tonnnie Wulff of Inver Grove Heights.
And perhaps Wulff, who was touring the Pearl Harbor exhibit at the historical society, isn't alone.
"The shock and the pain for most people is fading," said Horrigan.
He quickly added it mostly likely is still very present for victims' family and friends.
But what will it be like 20, 50, or 100 years from now?
"It really makes you think about it. It makes you think about where you stand in these feelings," said Jean Horn who was visiting the historical society Tuesday.
While we may or may not forget, much like Pearl Harbor is for us now, we most likely will remember 9/11 differently.
"Time makes that difference," said Wulff.
(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)