RCC Remembers 9/11, Honors Victims

Rockland Community College continued its tradition of marking the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Friday morning.

"I just think history is so important," said RCC President Dr. Cliff L. Wood. "It's how we learn. We really have an obligation as an educational institution. This is such an important part of it. I think it's something we have to continue to do because there is nothing in my lifetime that has had the impact this has on the way we live."

RCC Student Trustee Angel Torres of Haverstraw took part in the ceremony and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

"I am just grateful to be able to contribute to this," said Torres, who was 16 at the time of the attacks. "So many people did what theyd id on 9/11. I am abel to give a part of my heart to this.

"It's important to show the youth what adults thikn We show them what we felt, what we went through. I stand shocked, still to this day. My cousin was down there. He was on Ladder 99. He helped out. He told me stories of people falling and stuff and I know how detrimental it was for him. He thinks about it all the time."

Torres said it was important to remember the unity showed by Americans in the face of a national tragedy.

"My cousin was down there for six straight days," Torres said. "They came together unified, no matter what race or color or background. They didn't care. That's what showed them they couldn't knock us down."

Four military veterans who are current RCC students read the names of Rockland County residents and people with ties to the county who were killed during the attacks and the aftermath.

"We need our students to remember th is and to honor those people who lost their lives and their families," Wood said. "We always need to honor those who serve this country, but to also remember the event itself and what it means and what it symbolizes. It's uncomfortable sometimes. but we have to do it.

"My message is that terrorists aren't everybody. This is a small group of people and they could have come from any background. We have to live in peace."