Lawrence Middle School remembers 9/11

Appreciating those who survived the 9/11 attacks and honoring heroes was the theme of this year’s Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony at Lawrence Middle School.
Students, teachers and administrators gathered in the auditorium to pause and reflect through songs, poetry, a candle lighting ceremony and speeches on a historical event that impacted many in the Five Towns and throughout the world.
On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists conducted four attacks that resulted in nearly 3,000 people being killed, the destruction of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center, damage to the Pentagon and a failed rescue attempt by passengers in Shanksville, Pa.
Middle school Principal Willis Perry wanted his students to consider whom they call a hero and remember the survivors. He said that it is important to understand that a hero isn’t someone who is a television star or an athlete, but someone who takes care of them every day — their parents.
“The important things to remember are understanding what a survivor is, and what it means to be a survivor,” he said. “Each and every one of you has the survivor side of you.”

County Legislator Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence) said that this event should never be forgotten as terrorist acts have constantly been perpetrated due to hatred. “History is important,” he told the students. “If you ignore it, the world repeats it. We, the adults, depend on you going forward to make this world a better place than it’s been in the past.”
Sixth-grade teacher Kelly Dowling said educating the children about what occurred is the best way to help ensure they don’t forget. “The children at this age level, we try to make them connect with this moment in history because it’s important for them to know what happened,” she said. “We are having this school-wide ceremony, and individual classrooms are also doing their own lessons about Sept. 11, especially the Social Studies classes. At this age, they are too young to remember what happened, or it was before their time.”
Shannon Ehlers, an eighth-grader from Inwood, wants to make sure that people always remember what happened, as she lost a family friend that day. “We lost so many people that day, and it was hard on our country,” she said. “My family and I lost our friend, Joseph Rivelli Jr. (an Inwood resident and a city firefighter). With 9/11, we know never to forget what happened.”