By KEATON LAMBERT and LEAH MOORMAN
Sheridan High School Students
Editor’s Note: The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abigayle Williams.
On September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack occurred in the United States of America. In the catastrophic event, two planes hit the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Another plane hit the Pentagon, and one crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
A total of 2,977 lives were taken in this heart-wrenching attack. The attack was orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, who was the leader of al-Qaeda at the time. Those old enough to understand what was happening on that day will likely not soon forget it. So why do we not continue to honor those who lost their lives trying to protect our fellow citizens?
This tragedy claimed the lives of thousands and should never be forgotten. However, in light of the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 attack, it feels as though the American people give the event less and less attention each year.
In past years, students at Sheridan Elementary School were excused from class for an assembly to honor the local heroes in our community. Our police officers, firefighters, and EMTs were once invited to the school to be recognized for their honorable contributions of protecting our community. However, what was once an assembly turned into a simple moment of silence which occurred at the time when the first plane struck the Twin Towers.
Then, in recent years, several school corporations have done nothing to help preserve the memory of those who fell in the 9/11 attacks.
September 11, 2001 changed the course of American history forever. Many people were profoundly impacted by the events of that day.
Many students at Sheridan were disappointed that we didn’t have a moment of silence this year.
Senior Ian Pence said, “I feel like we should have had a moment of silence to respect the lives lost on September 11th, 2001.”
Mia Brooks, a junior at Sheridan High School, stated, “It made me feel like everyone forgot about 9/11. It made me frustrated.”
Katy Crail is a sophomore at SHS and had this to say: “I waited all day for the moment of silence to be announced over the loudspeaker. I thought it was rather ridiculous that we did not have a moment of silence to honor those who fell during the 9/11 attacks. The fact that we didn’t honor them was disappointing.”
However, Mr. Mathew Hewitt, a social studies teacher at SHS, stated: “It is more important that as individuals we remember what 9/11 means to us personally than to have something generic read over the intercom telling us to honor the day and be quiet. If it’s really important to you, you’ll remember it on your own, and that is much more impactful.”
Hewitt can still remember the events of that fateful day, and it means more to him that he can remember the events on his own than have to be reminded over the intercom.
While many people were definitely expecting the formal recognition of 9/11, those of us who thought about it were already honoring those who served or lost their lives on our own. So if you were upset, as many were that there was no formal declaration of respect on 9/11, think about it this way: It is more impactful and worthwhile that you thought about it on your own. If you were thinking about 9/11 and thinking about the people connected with the day, then you yourself honored it.
It has been 17 years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 happened. Looking forward, remember that as time proceeds, history is going to change. Like the Battle of Gettysburg, the dropping of the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, or the Boston Marathon bombings, 9/11 will soon be put on the back burner of our minds when something else major makes the news. School shootings, natural disasters and wars will all change the course of American history, just as September 11, 2001 did for so many people.
In no way does the changing of history, or the next big event, change the fact that the terrorist attacks in America on September 11, 2001 gutted many individuals. 9/11 will forever remain a part of history, and it will remain important to those who really care about it.
Going forward, educate your kids, your friends and your fellow man about the tragedy that occurred on that fateful day in the early fall of 2001. But most importantly, remember to honor the day and those involved on your own. The memory of an event is what keeps it alive.