THS JROTC Leads Community in 9/11 Tribute

The THS community commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Friday, September 10th, gathering to pay tribute to the lives lost in 2001. Students, staff, and faculty members assembled outside or joined a live broadcast to watch the ceremony led by the JROTC class.

The ceremony took place at the flagpole and started promptly at 8:46 am, the time the first plane hit the North Tower 20 years ago. The THS Color Guard performed the presentation of the colors: the young cadets marched out, raised the flag to the peak of the flagpole, and then lowered it to half-staff. 

The THS Concert Choir sang the National Anthem, and Maria Fragione played “Taps” on a bugle. Cadet Marie Nelson, Lt. Colonel Coulouras, and Principal Ledversis also shared a few words about the importance of remembering the attacks.

Master Sergeant Robert Sullivan was especially proud of the great turnout outside, as the courtyard was crowded with many classes who came in person to watch the ceremony. Because the current generation of students at THS was not alive to witness the attacks, Sergeant Sullivan finds it important to help the students understand the event. “Some people hear about it, ‘9/11, yes, I know what that was, some planes hit the towers’ but don’t really remember what actually happened.” This tradition started in 2002 and has followed a similar routine every year since.
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THS teacher Mrs. Maquire explained, “Twenty years later, we still share in the grief of the aftermath of 9/11 but can always remember the hope, resilience, and unity shown.” Many students and staff took part in the Red, White, and Blue Spirit Day. Teachers also commemorated in their classrooms, sharing documentaries and presentations that went over the tragic event.