INTRODUCTION

CRASH! As the sounds of the two airplanes hitting the World Trade Center. It has been more than two decades since the day our country was under attack and had lost many of its citizens, 9/11. On September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack struck Manhattan, New York City as two hijacked airplanes crashed in the World Trade Center, also known as the Twin Towers. Clouds of dark smoke and fumes emerged from the two tallest buildings in the United States, in which it could have been visible in the distance miles away from the city. This terrible event shocked the entire world.

The day following 9/11, over 200,000 American flags were sold out of stores in the country. Recovering from the attacks, those with patriotic ideals were challenged. Major cities such as New York and Los Angeles, flooded with waves of flags flying across the air as Americans grieved for what they had lost in New York City. 

HOW LODI HIGH SCHOOL HONORED THE ONES WE LOST

Lodi High School has honored 9/11 since the day it took place. Two successful former students lost their lives in the attack: John Perconti and Angel Pena. Both John and Angel worked in the World Trade Center. To honor their legacy, the school originally added a memorial tree outside the Vice Principal’s Office. This expanded into a school collaboration with Home Depot. The partnership resulted in the donation of the “Our Heroes” Garden: the paver pathway leading up to the flagpole. There are also two stones outside the school memorializing John and Angel. 

Additionally, during one of the football games, our principal, Mr. D’Amico stated, “…we had a ceremony at half-time… and we had Angel’s and John’s family come back, you know (because) we donated this new memorial in their memory.” Now, every year during 9/11, the school makes a special announcement to take a moment of silence to honor those who lost their lives that day. Every year, when there is a home football game around the weekend of September 11, they would do a short pre-game ceremony.

TEACHERS’ ACCOUNTS OF THAT DAY

Staff members here at Lodi High School remember what happened on September 11 and where they were. Three of our teachers have given their accounts of where they were that day.

Ms. Fasulo, Pre-Med teacher, was a senior in high school, sitting in her pre-calculus class. During class, her principal announced that an airplane hit the first Twin Tower, shocking Ms. Fasulo. Then, once the second plane hit, the principal notified them again. Many of the worried students attempted to leave the school because they were close to New York City and concerned about family members working there, leading to the school taking cautionary measures and placing them in the gymnasium to wait. Fasulo remembered, “Many people I know have lost parents or loved ones. I still remember it like it was two days ago. Nothing has ever been the same since.”

Ms. Specht, a math teacher, was a sophomore in geometry class. After news of the attack spread across the building, Ms. Specht’s teacher had turned on the TV in the classroom, which replayed the attack. That same day, she learned that her uncle was supposed to go to work in Manhattan but did not.  She recollected, “My friend and I were both very lucky, but it was still a very surreal and scary thing to have experienced.”

Mr. Galvin, LHS history teacher, was a high school freshman in science class when an administrator entered the classroom and revealed to everyone that New York City was under attack. However, because they were young teenagers, they didn’t understand the gravity of the event. Because of the attack, none of Mr. Galvin’s teachers taught their classes and the released students early.

CONCLUSION

It has been twenty-one years since September 11 and society has vastly changed but the events of that day will always be remembered to honor those that lost their lives that day. Students may not have been alive during this time, but the message is just as valuable: Hold on to the memories of those you love and times you share with them because every moment counts.

“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.”

-Barak Obama