ALWAYS GREAT HAVING YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> Cathy: LAST WEEKEND THE NATION REMEMBERED THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORST TERRORIST ATTACK ON AMERICAN SOIL.

A NEW MILITARY AND VETERANS MUSEUM IN THE STATE ALSO OPENED ITS DOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE DIVERGENCE OF EVENTS WAS NOT A COINCIDENCE.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE PREVIEWED THE MINNESOTA MILITARY VETERANS MUSEUM IN MAY AND WENT BACK FOR THE OPENING DAY.

>> THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001, WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED.

AND THE SOMBER ANNIVERSARY WAS DELIBERATELY INCLUDED IN TWO DAYS OF PROGRAMS.

AS THE STATE WELCOMED ITS NEW MUSEUM HONORING STORIES OF MILITARY SERVICE.

>> FIRST WE GATHER TO REMEMBER THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, TO HONOR THE LIVES THAT WERE TAKEN, THE FAMILIES FOREVER CHANGED, THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO RAN TOWARD DANGER, AND THE GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ANSWERED OUR NATION'S CALL.

[ HORNS PLAYING ] ♪♪ >> EVERY YEAR AROUND 9/11 IS KIND OF TOUGH AND THIS YEAR WAS MORE SO BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH COVERAGE.

>> SCOTT WALLACE OF WOODBURY SURVIVED THE ATTACKS ON THE TWIN TOWERS THAT FATEFUL DAY.

HE SAYS HE LIVES SO HE MAY TELL OTHERS ABOUT IT.

>> WHEN THE FIREMAN FROM RESCUE ONE PASSED US, THEY NEVER MADE IT OUT OF THE TOWER BEFORE IT COLLAPSED.

>> TODAY ALSO MARKS A NEW CHAPTER IN HOW MINNESOTA WILL PRESERVE AND TELL THOSE STORIES.

>> VISITORS TO MINNESOTA'S MILITARY AND VETERANS MUSEUM WILL BE ABLE TO SEE REAL HELICOPTERS AND TANKS AND ARTILLERY USED ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

BUT ORGANIZERS SAY IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL WILL BE STORIES ABOUT MINNESOTANS.

>> THERE IS 300,000 VETERANS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEY WANT TO TELL THE STORIES OF INDIVIDUAL MEN AND WOMEN, THEIR BIOGRAPHY, THEIR STORIES, THEIR WORDS, WALKING IN THEIR SHOES SEEING IT THROUGH THEIR EYES AND I THINK WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT IN LARGE PART.

>> THE EXHIBITS COVER CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MINNESOTANS FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR.

STORIES FROM PEOPLE LIKE 31-YEAR VETERAN R. DAVID HAMLER.

HE SERVED MOST OF HIS TIME IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

>> WHEN I GO TO COMMUNITIES LIKE NORTH MINNEAPOLIS OR SOMETHING, I DON'T SEE VFWs, I DON'T SEE AREAS WHERE PEOPLE GATHER WHO ARE, WHO LOOK LIKE ME AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STORY IS TOLD.

>> THIS NAVY VETERAN SERVED TWO DEPLOYMENTS OVERSEAS, OPERATIONS IRAQI FREEDOM AND ENDURING FREEDOM.

SOME OF HER COLLEAGUES DIDN'T RETURN.

>> THIS MUSEUM IS REVITALIZING WHY WE SERVED OUR COUNTRY, AND JUST WALKING IN YOU HAVE THE OATH AND LISTENING TO KATE BOWER AND OTHERS AS THEY RESTATED THEIR OATH TO THE UNITED STATES.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

>> I, DON HALVORSON.

>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.

>> REAL LIFE STORIES OF MINNESOTANS ARE TOLD THROUGH THEIR WORDS, PHOTOS AND POSSESSIONS LIKE SERGEANT CARL G. PETERSON OF ST.

PAUL WHO SERVED IN A RAILROAD UNIT DURING WORLD WAR II IN PRESENT-DAY IRAN, SUPPLYING TROOPS IN RUSSIA, AND TECH SERGEANT DELORIS MARIE VO SEC A OF MINNEAPOLIS, PART OF THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS ALSO