Patriot Day ceremony held at West County
Moment of silence held as students observe 22nd anniversary of 9/11
PAM CLIFTON, Contributing Writer
Monday marked the 22nd anniversary of the U.S. attack on Sept. 11, 2001.
The date is recognized as Patriot Day, the nation’s tine to remember and honor the nearly 3,000 people killed in the flight hijackings and the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks 22 years ago.
West County students, staff and community members honored the victims in an early-morning ceremony on Monday.
Middle and high school students and staff gathered together outside for a combined service around the high school’s flagpole.
West County High School Principal James Abel welcomed attendees and asked junior Mylee Walka to share details about the events of 2001.
She told about how terrorists linked to the extremist group Al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airliners and carried out suicide attacks against U.S. targets. Two of the planes were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, while a third plane hit the Pentagon in Virginia and the fourth crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Out of the nearly 3,000 people killed, 343 were firefighters, 23 were police officers and 37 were Port Authority police officers.
After Walka concluded, members of the Desloge VFW Post 2426 lowered the American flag to half-staff and a moment of silence was held to remember those who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
WCHS senior Cole Laird led the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by junior Amber Henderson’s explanation about the Freedom Flag, which was displayed behind her by students Austin Horton and MaKinna Wilkinson.
Local first responders were recognized by West County SRO Jennifer Hulsey. She asked each person to introduce themselves and briefly tell about their careers.
The combined choir of middle and high school students, led by director Ryan Hassell, concluded the ceremony by singing the song “First Responders.”
