September 11, 2001 will be forever known as one of the saddest days in the history of the United States. It was the worst terrorist attack ever on U.S. soil, killing 2,966 people and injuring more than 6,000. In addition, according to worldatlas.com, the attacks accounted for three trillion dollars in damages in terms of property, lost production of goods and services, and loss of stock market wealth. The terrible attack was organized by the terrorist group al-Qaeda, Islamic extremists who cited America’s support of Israel, the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, and sanctions against Iraq as motives. Four passenger planes were hijacked by terrorists and two crashed into each of the World Trade Center buildings in New York City, causing their collapse,  one crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, and one crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Sixteen years later, organizations and citizens all across America, including The Benjamin School, honored the victims of 9/11.

Because of the delay caused by Hurricane Irma, the school held its ceremony in the quad on the morning of Tuesday, September 19. The entire Middle School gathered there, and Mr. Hagy opened with an address about what took place on 9/11 (also known as Patriot Day) and why it’s important we still recognize the tragedy. Then, five eighth graders – Ella Piermen, Sydney Steinger, Eden Joza, Ryan Casey, and Liam Gaeta – each read a part of President Trump’s speech which he delivered from the Pentagon on September 11. Eighth grader Emeline SMith sung the national anthem, and Mr. Hagy closed the ceremony by asking for a moment of silence in honor of the 9/11 victims.

It’s difficult for some of the students to fully grasp the enormity of the tragedy since none of the current middle schoolers were born when 9/11 took place.

“Every year when we have a ceremony for it,” said eighth grader Dylan Bernstein, “I stand there and listen and I understand the importance of the event, but I do not feel the significance of what really happened because I didn’t experience it. I wasn’t born.”

The inability for students to fully comprehend the scope of 9/11 is understandable to the adults who lived through it. “It is always challenging for one generation to explain to a younger generation all the emotional connotations that go along with an important event because the younger folks just weren’t there,” said English teacher Mr. Nathan Ginnetty. “The challenges of explaining 9/11 to people who were not born are the same challenges that my parents had explaining to me the JFK assassination.”   

That still doesn’t stop students from trying to sympathize with those who lost loved ones.

“I feel bad [sic] for the families who suffered after a loved one died – it’s tragic,” said Casey. “You know innocent lives were lost on that day.” Added Bernstein, “It is a terrible tragedy – all those innocent lives lost because of some crazy terrorist group.”

Hagy believes even though Patriot Day is a solemn day of remembrance, students today can still honor those lives that were lost. “I think the President and Presidents since 2001 have phrased this [9/11] appropriately,” he said. “We make this day a national day of remembrance, but more importantly we make this a day of service. We make it a day of kindness and goodwill towards other people and that’s how we remember those who came before us.”