Schools, community will remember 9/11

By Stacy Wright, Staff Writer 09/10/2003

It might seem like it was years ago to some, but to others who were touched personally by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it seems like it was yesterday.

Thursday will mark the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon near Washington, which resulted in the death of more than 3,000 people.

Schools and organizations around the community will honor those who lost theirlives in the terrorist attacks.

"We look at it as what has happened because of it...the way our country has come together," Liberty Elementary School principal Linda Holman said.

Liberty Elementary, which was originally supposed to be named Quail Run Elementary, got its name to honor of the victims of 9/11. The school, which opened in August 2002, spent a lot of time honoring the heroes of 9/11 during its first school year.

"I want the kids to remember their heritage and how this school got started and the respect they should have for the people in the country," Holman said.

Many of the students this year are writing letters to local firefighters and police officers.

"9/11 is really deep seeded in our school," Holman said. "We never let go and just celebrate it that one day. We will remember them all year."

The Colony High School will have its homecoming parade at 6 p.m. Thursday to honor those lost in 9/11. More than 75 floats from the homecoming court and school organizations will wade down Blair Oaks to the high school, where the homecoming pep rally will be held. The theme, Celebrate Freedom, with the colors red, white and blue, will also be incorporated into the decorations at the dance.

"I think it's important to recognize the fact that we have freedom, because many other people give up there lives for us," said Claire Oliver, The Colony High School Student Council sponsor.

TCHS will also hold a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

More than 150 students from McKamy Middle School in Flower Mound will create a mural on the outside sidewalk today to honor the ones lost in the Sept. 11 attacks. Each student will have their own block to design his or her reflections of the day.

"Some of them are reflecting actual family members that they lost and some of them are just remembering it to keep the event fresh on their minds," said Christine Sanders, seventh- and eighth-grade art teacher.

The mural will be labeled, "McKamy Remembers 9/11."

On Saturday, members of the Eight Count Dance Team brought a spaghetti lunch and an American flag cake to the Lewisville Central Fire Department in remembrance of 9/11 and to show their appreciation to the firefighters.

"They work really hard for the city and the girls wanted to do something special for them," said Cindy Risler, the team director. "The guys seemed to really like the food and still had some left for dinner."

The firefighters gave the girls a ride on a fire truck and let them try on their fire- protection jackets.

The girls, ages 10 to 12, performed a dance routine and even tried to teach it to some of the firefighters, which was "pretty comical," Risler said.

Flower Mound High School will show honor to those who lost their lives on 9/11 by displaying hundreds of flags on the front lawn.

"Everyone that's in high school doesn't always recognize Veteran's Day (and other military holidays), but Sept. 11 is what they know and witnessed and we have to remind them of the soldiers we have over seas and the service men at home, like our fire fighters and police officers," said Chelsea Faxon, FMHS student body president.

The Baha'i Faith of Flower Mound is planning a devotional service at the main fire station from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today. They will also hold another devotional service on the Mound at 9 a.m. Thursday.

"We believe the prayers offered for the people who have passed on helps elevate their soul," said Baha'I member Mark Sherrill.

Lamar Middle School in Flower Mound will also display a symbolic gesture Thursday in an event they call, "A Step Back in Time, A Step Forward for the Future." All of the students dressed in red, white and blue will stand in a circle around the track holding hands and will take a step back to remember the tragic events of 9/11. Then they will take a step forward to represent how they are working together for the future.

Arbor Creek Middle School in Carrollton will also have an assembly today to honor the police and fire departments. The Hebron High School JROTC and color guard will perform, while the middle school band will play several service hymns.

Staff writer Nicole Bywater contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Stacy Wright at 972-538-2118 or wrights@starcntexas.com.

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