9/11 Remembered

EPC Cheerleaders remarkable tribute at the EPC vs Marked Tree game. Photo by: Carol Dabney

A year ago I was pondering if we have forgotten the attacks on 9/11. I can now stand before you today and honestly say we are far from it. At school I could tell an apparent change in the amount of teachers who acknowledged the day- I had hoped my blog had had an impact.

Teachers showed videos and did presentations over 9/11. I hadn't had the pleasure of watching one of the videos being presented until 6th Period; Mr. Kelly, the history teacher, invited my AP Government and Politics class to his classroom to accompany his 7th graders as they watched the video. I sat there in the classroom towering over all of the kids in the classroom. However, this gave me an advantage, I was able to observe their faces very well. I particularly paid attention when the documentary detailed the effects of the tower clasping: the people jumping out of the towers, the terror-stricken faces fleeing the threatening cloud of dust, the ash-covered "zombies" with blood trickling down their faces. A look of disbelief, shock was plastered to their faces. The normally rambunctious class was now so silent...I could hear the silence. Showing students these documentaries do play a vital part in the remembrance of 9/11. Without the day being acknowledged the memory and impression of 9/11 fades, especially with our younger generations.

Thank you to all of the teachers who showed presentations and reminded their students and themselves of the significance of 9/11, of the sacrifices made and in-the-making for our country.

I will probably be banned from returning to Marked Tree High after saying this, but it is very much deserved! Tonight was the rival game between Marked Tree and EPC. We began forming our spirit line trying to out do EPC. I noticed the cheerleaders were wearing camouflage pants and black wife-beaters. "Is that their uniform?" I pondered. I surely had hoped not. Then the announcer came over the PA system and announced that their unusual attire was to honor our Veterans. There were several Veterans there. As my readers well know I have a very soft spot when it comes to our Veterans. "How nice of them to do that, that says a lot about them!" I thought.

It didn't stop there! The cheerleaders marched onto the field carrying a huge painted American flag. They respectfully placed it on the ground and did a dance routine to a mix of patriotic songs. Then a silence cut into the music and they descended to their enormous flag, positioning it up, and proudly displaying it. Honoring our Veterans. "Should we stand up?" someone asked in the stands. "I think so, yes." I responded. We stood up honoring our Veterans.

EPC Cheerleaders- you did an amazing job and should be commended for it. I was literally speech less! You floored me. I can only imagine the look on the Veterans' faces. You have set the bar high.

To my much surprise, it did not stop there either! As the cheerleaders positioned themselves in front of the flag fireworks red-glared!

My commiserations to you all! You, yourselves have reminded everyone who attended the football game and all who will read this blog exactly how grateful we are to live in such a nation.