On the morning of Friday, September 10, the sound of the bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace” and the lowering of the American flag signaled to everyone watching in person or via livestream in their classrooms, that it was the moment to commemorate and reflect upon the 20^th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11. In addition to honoring the victims, the Middle and Upper School assembly included an acknowledgment of the heroism and sacrifices made by the first responders and the medical professionals who worked tirelessly in the days following the attacks.

The commemoration was organized by Patricia Jackson, Viewpoint Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Life. She hopes that by taking the time to reflect upon the devastation caused by 9/11, that our community will come together and support one another even more.

As a historian, Head of Middle School Stephen Chan shared his thoughts on the intersection of history, personal experience, and public memory. He said, “September 11 is important for a lot of reasons. One of them is that in the 21st century it’s a pivotal moment in world history. For the adults in our community, it’s an occasion to commemorate a day of tragic loss and to remember heroism that emerged in its wake. For the younger members of our community, it’s an occasion to learn and to reflect. The lasting tribute of 9/11 is that we can do this together.”  

In his concluding remarks, Head of School Mark McKee offered some thoughtful advice and suggestions for our students:

“Students, ask your parents, ask any adult and they will tell you their story of that day, where they were, what that event meant to them then and what it means now.  The world changed for us that day, it became smaller, a little less innocent, definitely more connected.”

He continued, “After the memorials, then, what do we do? So that my brief words are practical, I offer four invitations to how all of us can take action to make a difference.

1.     First is to remember, to learn, learn, learn. Memory is an active process, and the oral histories of 911 are all around us, in our homes and families. Ask your parents and grandparents, read, and listen.

2.     Next is to be safe, to prioritize your safety and the safety of others. Every one of us bears responsibility for our own safety, and each of us can make a difference with vigilance to the safety of our community.

3.     With safety comes preparation, and the third action is to prepare. Once you learn, once you prioritize your safety, you must take the needed actions to prepare—and not just for a potential wildfire but for your extraordinary future. You have the imagination to see possibilities—and with that imagination comes the opportunity and responsibility to prepare, to be world-ready.

4.     And finally, we can connect. One of the most touching things we hear from that day is the universal message—just know I love you, just tell them I love them. I’m okay, I’ll see you soon. That day connects us, around the world, just as this school and this day connects us.

Remember and learn, take care and be safe, prepare, and connect. When we feel there is little we can do to change a complex, unfortunate moment in history, we can take heart, we can take courage, in knowing there is so much more we can do with that history to make a better future.”