Video: Hopatcong Middle School Remembers 9/11

Eric Strand stood in Hopatcong's administration building nine years ago, watching the Twin Towers burn on a TV.

On Friday, the social studies teacher had a clear memory of that morning as Middle School students paid tribute the almost 3,000 who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Strand was glad, however, that most of his students didn't recollect the day.

"Most of these kids were 3, 4, 5 years old," he said. "They were babies. They don't have actual memories of the events, which may be a good thing."

Strand, a former Roxbury volunteer firefighter, gave a speech to the students, emphasizing the impact the tragedy had on America.

"We celebrate the Fourth of July and that was over 200 years ago," he said. "This is a significant time in American history. It wasn't an event that happened and everything continued.

"Everything changed on 9/11. Everything changed."