Proviso West NJROTC Honors Fallen on Patriots Day

From Proviso Township High Schools District 209:

The Proviso West High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) unit had one message on Wednesday, September 11: Remember.

"At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the north face of the North Tower of the World Trade Center," said Kyana Rockett, 16 and a junior cadet, to the gathered crowd. "Remember."

The NJROTC cadets remembered other aspects of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on New York and Washington, D.C., in its annual Patriots Day ceremony by the flagpole at the Proviso West Circle Drive entrance. Culminating with the raising of the flag to half staff, a moment of silence for the nearly 3,000 people who were killed that day, and the release of balloons in their memory, the ceremony was a way for the students to remember an attack that occurred before any of them had started kindergarten.

"It helps us remember," Kyana said afterward. "It was an honor to be part of something like this."

Mr. Gerard Egler, an NJROTC instructor and Navy Commander, said that this is the second year of conducting the remembrance ceremony at the flagpole. He said conducting ceremonies such as the Patriots Day Remembrance supports the goals that the NJROTC program works to instill in cadets.

"It promotes patriotism, develops informed and responsible citizens, promotes an understanding of the basic elements and requirements for national security, and develops leadership potential," Commander Egler said. "We are trying to help make recent historical events stay ‘current.’"

Tiara Robinson, 16 and a junior cadet, spoke to the crowd of students and teachers about the victims of the hijacked plane crashes in Washington and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

"Many people, from many countries, lost family and friends," Tiara said. "In accordance with President Obama’s proclamation, Proviso West High School Administration and NJROTC Cadets request everyone observe a moment of silence to show respect for those who lost their lives that day."

Mr. Oscar Hawthorne, principal at Proviso West, said that the ceremony was a great tribute to the victims of September 11.

"Our students honored the victims of 9-11 with dignity and respect," he said. "My sincere thanks to NJROTC for sponsoring such a moving tribute."

Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart, superintendent of District 209, said it was important that students remember events such as the attacks.

"They are growing up in a different world than the one that most of us grew up in, and we need to sure they understand the history of what happened that day," she said. "Remembering this important event that occurred when most of the students were very young is a way for them to connect with those who remember and to show respect for those who lost their lives."

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