Seneca Valley School District commemorates 9/11
JACKSON TWP — The people who died in and responded to the 9/11 attacks 22 years ago were commemorated Monday, Sept. 11, at Seneca Valley Senior High School.
The flag outside the school was lowered to half-staff during a ceremony conducted by members of the Junior ROTC program and was to be kept there all day in honor of Patriot Day.
Students in history classes attended the ceremony that was led by senior Logan Randall, a cadet lieutenant colonel in the JROTC, which has about 50 members.
“We were moved by the heroism of the passengers and crew aboard United Flight 93,” Randall said. “We were inspired by the police and first responders as they rushed into burning buildings to rescue the injured and trapped; we were stirred to service by the deeds of those who labored in the ensuring days and months to help our nation rebuild.”
He recounted the timeline of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people.
American Airlines Flight 11 hijacked by five al-Qaida terrorists was flown into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City at 8:46 a.m., hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 was flown into the south tower at 9:03 a.m., and hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon in Virginia at 9:37 a.m.
The south tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m. Hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Somerset County at 10:03 a.m. The north tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m.
JROTC members repeated, “We will not forget” after Randall asked the students to remember the innocent people killed; the fire, police and military personnel who responded; and the families who lost loved ones and friends that day.
After the ceremony, Randall, who is applying to the Naval Academy, said 9/11 affected everybody, and it is important for the JROTC to conduct the service.
Randall’s parents, Wayne and Amanda Randall, attended the ceremony. Wayne, a Marine, said he was deployed overseas after the 9/11 attacks.
“We couldn’t be prouder. He’s been doing this for four years. He’s dedicated. He loves it,” Wayne said about his son’s membership in JROTC.
“It was a catastrophic day for the country. It’s important to remember it,” said 1st Sgt. Angelo Lettiere, the JROTC Army instructor.
