New High School Will Feature 9/11 Memorial

Now that the and the its time to start looking forward and planning ahead. 

For one group of Wilmington High School students along with two social studies teachers, Mark Staffier and Tracey Kassin, planning for a new school also means looking back and remembering the past.

Determined to make certain that Wilmington remembers the victims and events of 9/11 these students and teachers have formed the 9/11 Memorial Committee and are currently working to make their dream of a new memorial a reality.

For Staffier and Kassin the roots of the project came about last summer. 

“Mark and I are involved in a Teaching American History grant. Our program, History Connected, provides professional development opportunities for high school history teachers in American history,” explained Kassin. “We have book groups, seminars and a week-long summer institute.  During our summer institute, we spent a day studying and viewing local memorials and monuments.  During the latter half of the way, we met in small groups to discuss what sources of public history our communities offer. Mark and I spoke about Wilmington’s strong commitment to honor veterans.”

That’s when the pair realized what was missing here in town.  

“When the topic of memorials to 9/11 was brought up, we realized that Wilmington didn’t have one,” Kassin said. “We knew that this was the type of community that would want one, so we decided to raise the issues with our students at the start of the school year.”

The students were immediately on board with the idea and, today, the committee consists of 15 students who meet weekly along with a peripheral group of about 40 who are part of subcommittees.

For these students, their commitment is unwavering despite the fact that they were no more than eight years old when the events of 9/11 took place.  Obviously unable to fully understand the situation ten years ago, these students are the first generation to have grown up surrounded by stories and memories of .

“I think they have learned how a tragic event can bring a country together during difficult times and how important the ideals of freedom and patriotism are to our country,” mentioned Kasson. “Those values have been around in Wilmington for a long time, so by examining the legacy of 9/11 it’s easy to make those connections.”

Their lives forever shaped by 9/11 these students are learning lesson that were never expected. 

As Kassin pointed out, “I think they have seen an impact on security in the country, from visits to the airport to media coverage of terrorist threats.  They all probably know someone who has served in the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well.”

To raise money, the students are selling t-shirts and soliciting donations in other ways. Currently preparing to meet with architects and designers, students on the committee have taken the 9/11 Memorial project on and truly made it their own. 

As for the future of the memorial that remains in the very capable hands of the 9/11 Memorial Committee.

"In the future, I think they will also be aware of the desire for security and with our project, I hope they see the value in honor those who lost their lives," said Kassin.  “The theme we keep going back to at our meetings is ‘Never forget.’  At meetings, we share stories about those lives lost, so we don’t forget what this is all about.”

For more information about the memorial or to purchase a t-shirt to benefit the project visit them online at www.sites.google.com/site/wilmington911memorial/.