September 11th – Revisited

Since I posted my entry on my school’s blatant disregard to the tragedy of September 11th, some interesting information has arisen. First off is the administration.

According to the principal of the school, “No other schools were recognizing the events which occurred that day, so why should we?” In fact, he felt no remourse in ignoring this date and come to find out, all the other schools in the area had a moment of silence. A group of students at my school started a petition for a late moment of silence. After getting about 3/4 of the school to sign it, Mr. Abrams agreed to set up a meeting with the group.

The day of the meeting arrived and the group of students arrived to meet with him. He never showed up. Shortly before classes were to begin, he walked into his office and his secretary reminded him of the meeting. According to one student, he said “He had completely forgotten about it.” Basically he tried to avoid the situation. Instead of forgetting about the meeting, the students walked with him and they had their meeting. In the following days, nothing happened. Then shortly after, a 20 second moment of silence was observed. The students believed it was a moment of triumph.

Wrong! Although the students did the work, the recognition was most likely only due to parents who called and complained. Knowing he was in hot water, he gave in. And then to make the school look even better, a “Letter to the Editor” was posted in the local paper.

My son Evan, who just completed his basic training for the Army this summer and is now a senior, was upset that Sept. 11 was not observed in Horseheads High School.

As a parent having two sons and a son-in-law in the military, I’m just as angry. How can a national tragedy and the lives of thousands of innocent American lives be forgotten?

I’d like to quote the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt after the attack on Pearl Harbor, “… a date that will live in infamy.”

The date related to Horseheads High School will always be Sept. 11, the day the principal and other school district officials so thoughtlessly failed to observe.

I want to say that I’m very proud of my son and the other students who by the courage of their convictions are trying to remedy this situation.

I wish more of our leaders in our school district had the backbone and courage to stand up and do what is right as these students did. Hopefully their determination to do right will undo a wrong.

How soon we have forgotten the terror we all felt when we saw our nation under attack only six short years ago.

ROBERT BURDICK JR.

Burdick, Robert. “Horseheads High should have observed 9/11 .” Star-Gazette 20 September 2007: A8+.

All in all, I would have to say it was a bitter-sweet victory for the remembrance of September 11th. Honestly, whats worse, ignoring the fact the events took place, or to recognize them only because failing to causes criticism?