Absegami High School to Perform 9/11 Tribute Program

The 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon took the United States by surprise, but no other city was shaken up as badly as New York City. In the weeks that followed, New Yorkers were still in shock.

The Twin Towers had fallen. Hundreds of people—some of whom were native New Yorkers—had perished either in one of the Twin Towers or one of the planes that had been hijacked and crashed into both towers, the Pentagon and the Pennsylvania countryside.

Many of the city's law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders were also killed while responding to ground zero, causing the city to further mourn in the weeks to come, as many of these men and women were laid to rest.

A glimpse at the days that followed Sept. 11, 2001, has been captured in a play written by Anne Nelson titled The Guys, and will be performed by Absegami's Emanon Players at 7 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Absegami's Performing Arts Center as part of the school's homage to the 10th anniversary of the attack.

A 9/11 tribute program at the school is also taking pledges from students and teachers alike. Students and teachers pledge to either volunteer their time at a charity or nonprofit organization or write a tribute to someone.

Absegami principal Dr. Jeri-Lynn Gatto said that students and faculty have up to the end of the year to complete their pledge.

Absegami drama teacher Chip Garrison is directing The Guys, which will star Absegami teachers Mark Glickstein and Julie Barton.

Tickets are a $5, and proceeds benefit the 9/11 Victims' Fund.

Based on a true story, the play centers around editor Joan and a fire department captain named Nick. Nick had lost most of his men in the attack and had difficulty writing eulogies for their memorial services. So, he contacted Joan for some help.

Over one afternoon, Nick and Joan recalled the fallen men through recounting their own virtues and foibles. In return they fashioned not only the stories into memorials of words, but also discovered the possibilities of friendship in each other and their shared love for the city's unconquerable spirit.