HomeNewsArticle Display


Redirecting...

Maxwell Elementary’s Sept. 11 ceremony pays tribute to nation’s unity in wake of tragedy

  • Published
  • By Kimberly L. Wright
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  When Maxwell Elementary School students were asked to raise their hands if they have had parents deployed, many little hands went up. The school's Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony, led by the school's Youth Leadership Team, expressed the students' gratitude to the armed forces for eight years of service and sacrifice in the Global War on Terror.

The ceremony was designed to help youngsters develop a better appreciation for the importance of what their mothers or fathers do in defense of a nation that has been at war for most, if not all, of their young lives.

In front of the school, the fifth- and sixth-grade student leaders described the terrorist attacks that took place eight years ago, before many of the elementary students were born.

While the ceremony served to mark the attacks that killed more than 2,000, it also emphasized the uplifting themes of patriotism, unity and service, paying tribute to those men and women who responded to the attacks.

Rebecca Hill, the Youth Leadership Team advisor, explained, "The team wanted to remember the day where the United States was united in grief but stood up for the America they love. They wanted to make it as relevant to the elementary students as possible, even though many of them were not even born yet. ... They wanted to thank our military forces for protecting us so we can live free lives in America."

The American flag brought the civics lesson in sharp focus, creating a lasting impression in red, white and blue. For the assembled students and parents, the Maxwell Honor Guard demonstrated the proper ceremonial usage of the American flag by posting the colors and conducting a flag-folding demonstration punctuated by the bugler sounding "Taps."

The Youth Leadership Team explained the American flag's history, meaning and continued significance in the world. Maxwell's student choir performed "I Remember You" by Teresa Jennings.

"Today, our flag flies on constellations of Air Force satellites that circle our globe, and on the fin flash of our aircraft in harms way in every corner of the world," said Andrew Turk, a Youth Leadership Team member. "Indeed, it flies in the heart of every Airman who serves our great nation. The sun never sets on our U.S. Air Force, nor on the flag we so proudly cherish."

Students also conveyed their appreciation for the vigilance of America's soldiers and Airmen serving overseas by writing letters, which each class's representative placed in a mailbox during the ceremony.

"We are proud of America's heroes, and we are proud to be Americans," said Ashley Shirriff, a Youth Leadership Team member.

Each class created a chain made of red, white and blue construction paper, all of which were linked together into one long chain at the conclusion of the ceremony to illustrate the concept "United as one." This chain will hang at the Maxwell clinic in honor of those who serve in the U.S. military.

The following members of the Maxwell Elementary Youth Leadership Team contributed their efforts to the ceremony: Justin Balcom, Katie Beasley, Michael Boster, Micaiah Bulluck, Zach DaSilva, Jaylin Hammonds, Hunter McClung, D'Andrea Patterson, Jasmine Reighard, Ashley Shirriff, Abby Stout, Cody Thompson and Andrew Turk.