Shaker Road Elementary School students and fourth grade teacher John Moak, help plant a tree during a remembrance ceremony marking the 10-anniversary of 9/11.
Posted september 9, 2011
Shaker Road Holds 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on 10-Year Anniversary
While the tragic events of September 11, 2001, seem like yesterday to most Americans, 10 years later that day has become a history lesson for the children of Shaker Road Elementary School.
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”While I realize none of you were born at the time, 9/11, like July 4th or Thanksgiving, is a term that’s going to become an important part of you for the rest of your lives,” said fourth grade teacher John Moak. “I’m sure when you ask your parents about that day they can tell you exactly where they were, what they were doing and how they felt. You will hear words like patriotism, hope, team work and courage. These are all things that make us proud to be Americans.”
Moak’s good friend, who was a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in Iraq, donated an American flag to Shaker Road in honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 – a day when terrorists hijacked airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center towers in New York City and into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth plane, believed headed to the White House, crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.
Two days before the 10th anniversary of those attacks, in which thousands of Americans died, the Shaker Road community and other South Colonie schools, came together to remember those who lost their lives and to honor the people who helped with the rescues at Ground Zero.
“Anyone
know what a hero is?” first grade teacher, Elizabeth Dollard,
asked the children.
”Superman,” a voice cried out.
“Yes, but there are heroes who don’t wear a cape or a mask,” Dollard explained. “Thousands of people were heroes on 9/11, just like the soldiers who serve our country every day. You can be a hero at Shaker Road, too, by standing up for one another and doing the right thing.”
Some of those heroes were on hand for the ceremony, including a dozen Colonie police and firefighters, as well as local men and women serving in the armed forces. Many were fathers and mothers of Shaker Road children, who dressed in red, white and blue to mark the occasion.
Two
of the service people on hand carried in the American flag
donated by Mr. Moak’s friend and unfurled it on stage while the
children recited, “The Pledge of Allegiance.” After a version of
“God Bless America,” the children march outside to the school
flag pole where the flag was raised while they sang, “The Star
Spangled Banner.”
On the way out of the building, Mr. Moak commended the children on their behavior, saying “you did a great job being serious, today. After all, this is not a day to be sad it’s a day to be proud.”
Following the flag raising, the children walked to the grass circle in front of their school where they helped plant a red maple tree that was donated by Hewitt’s nursery. They shoveled dirt into the hole and used a large bucket to give the tree its first watering.
”It’s a small tree,” said Shaker Road Principal William Dollard, “but in time, it will grow tall just like all of you will. When you come back here some day as adults and you see the tree, I want you to remember this day and what you learned here. Let it be a reminder to all of us.”
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