Valley students reflect on terror attacks

Some of the remembrances centered around the American flag, others involved class discussions and some were simply observations of a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m.

At Jack Northrop Elementary School in Lancaster, fifth-graders spoke out about what freedom meant during their "Freedom Day" assembly.

"Now on this very day we are all solemn, but we have something they (terrorists) don't have," said 10-year-old Kenny Hermosillo as he read his essay out loud. "We are all united because we fight together. We are truly the United States of America."

Aramis Rodriguez said he has a dream about peace on earth where there is no bombing but justice for everyone.

"Everyone should be treated kindly and with respect," he said. "I don't know why people treat others like that, because they are going to get treated like they treat another person."

He also mentioned some of his favorite rights as an American citizen.

"I'm also glad that we have the rights to have pets, wear what we want, not get hit in school," he said.

Ten-year-old Alexis Quiroga talked about the fear and shock she experienced last September.

"Sept. 11 was not a clip from some horror movie; it was real," she said. "When I found out about the attack I was scared, and I'm sure other kids were scared, too. Sept. 11 will never be forgotten. Neither will the heroes of Sept. 11."

Time has made most elementary students feel safe again, but Jack Northrop Principal Karen Stults said students were frightened when they first heard about the attacks.

"Parents came to school because they felt safer here," she said. "They wanted to be with their little ones."

After conducting an assembly to explain to the students what had happened, teachers made the rest of the day low-key, with many students sharing their classes with their parents and getting extra recess time, Stults said.

Some students opted not to participate in the Wednesday afternoon assembly because they were still nervous, she said.

The Jack Northrop ceremony included the presentation of $1,000, raised from pin sales, to Los Angeles County Fire Station 135, which is to pass the donation to the families of New York Fire Department's Station 35, the station that lost all of its firefighters in the collapse of the twin towers.

About 160 second-graders were the stars at Linda Verde Elementary in Lancaster as they talked about the symbolism of the 12 folds in the U.S. flag as an honor guard from Edwards Air Force Base presented and folded a flag. They also sang several patriotic songs, including "God Bless the USA" as the finale. That last song silenced the assembled students, some of whom cried.

"Because maybe they were thinking about all the people (who died) when they heard that song," said 7-year-old Ashley Ramirez, who was part of the second-grade performance.

Devyn Varela, 7, said Sept. 11 was "a long time ago," but he remembered being scared.

Quanisha Scott, 8, said she and her mother cried when they saw planes flying into the World Trade Center on television because she had family in New York and she didn't know whether any family members died.

Ryan Bell, 7, said what he saw on television made him sad, too.

"I was sad because of all the people jumping off the buildings and stuff because of the planes," he said.

But the children said they were no longer afraid, adding that participating in the program was fun.

"Most of us had speaking parts. It was fun to be up there and have a spotlight," said Scott, who sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" as a solo.

Principal Tara Brown said the school normally has a patriotic ceremony each year but felt Sept. 11 was the appropriate day to do it this year.

Seniors at Highland High School started what they hope will become a tradition as seniors gathered in front of the school. Science teacher Edward Mooney presented the school with a U.S. flag that had flown at a municipal building on Sept. 11, 2001, in a town next to Shanksville, Pa., where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed, killing 40 passengers and crew.

"I give it freely to Highland High School because I am not worthy of it," Mooney said. "Let the word go forth in this place to the entire world - in the dawn's early light our flag was still there."

The 30- by 20-foot flag, too big for the 35-foot flag pole in front of the school, was hoisted on four hooks from the portico in front of the school by six members of the school's Air Force ROTC.

Mooney, a flag collector, found the flag for sale on an Internet site, spent $300 to purchase it and then discovered where it had flown.

"I just felt it deserved to be in a place where it could be seen by everybody," he said. "This way it is something we can keep that Highland can remember Sept. 11 with."

School officials hope someone will donate a 100-foot flag pole for the oversized flag. For now, it will be displayed on the portico.

The ceremony also included patriotic songs from the school's chorus and band. Highland teacher John Johnston, who is also a Los Angeles County firefighter and sheriff's department search and rescue captain, laid a wreath at the Highland crest for those who died saving lives.

Students observed a moment of silence and lowered the school's smaller flag to half-staff at 8:46 a.m., commemorating the moment the first plane hit the World Trade Center.

Senior Amanda Johnson enjoyed the symbolism of the ceremony.

"It was really cool to see a flag that was there as the last plane flew over, and now it's here at Highland," she said.

Sophomore Melissa Ramirez, who recorded the events for the school's yearbook, thought Sept. 11 should be observed because of what it means to the county.

"I think that what happened, it broke everybody's heart and it brought them back together," she said.

Students at R. Rex Parris High School in Littlerock discussed the significance and issues surrounding the event in their classes.

The administrators asked that students not be identified by last name.

"Nobody thought it would happen in Pearl Harbor," John said. "On Sept. 11, we thought we were superior and we were blindsided. Now when you walk on the streets, you have to watch your back."

Some students wanted it declared an official holiday - especially if it meant a day off from school.

"Why? That's the devil's work. Why would they make it a holiday? People died. Why would we celebrate?" said Jacob, who added he was shocked that something like that could happen.

Uploaded September 12, 2002