Touching Sept 11th Tribute at School Board Meeting
September 14, 2022
A touching tribute observing the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks was held prior to Monday night’s Huntington School Board meeting in the Adam Spector Auditorium at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School.
“It has been 21 years and a day since the events of 9/11/2001,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “It took a horrific tragedy to bring this country together. At that time and for some time thereafter, we were one as a nation regardless of political affiliation, age, race, ethnicity, gender or religion. Now, decades later, it is important for us, as adults who lived through that day, to keep the memories alive, not just once a year on an anniversary, but each and every day. We can do so by promoting acceptance, kindness and unity. It is important for us to educate our young people (who were yet to exist) on what happened on that day and the days that followed. It is critical for us to model exemplary citizenship and respectful dialogue so that our students clearly recognize we all have much more in common than we will ever be different. It is beyond time for us set aside personal agendas at all levels. None of us is any more or less important than any one of our neighbors.”
The observance, which led off the meeting of trustees, was attended by students, parents, faculty and staff and district officials.
“The tragedy of 9/11 reminded us that this is the land of the free and home of the brave,” Mr. Polansky said. “It is our charge to honor those lost by continually acting and serving such that the values and virtues upon which this country was built remain forever intact.”
It is our charge to honor those lost by continually acting and serving such that the values and virtues upon which this country was built remain forever intact.
The Huntington High School chamber choir performed a lovely and somewhat haunting version of “God Bless America.” The group included: Soprano I: Liva Camarata, Michaela Dopico, Josie Sullivan; Soprano II: Kate Balm, Chloe Hunt, Sophia Segal; Alto I: Emily Kustera, Isabella Lanfranco, Sofia Rodriquez; Alto II: Delia Caruso, Mia Molina, Alexa Schirripa; Tenor I: Samuel James, Sam Soric; Tenor II: Mack Brunner, Alexis Rodriquez; Bass I: Jake Amend, Dylan Brinn; Bass II: David Chavez, Markus Fehrenbacher.
The ceremony concluded with the poignant playing of taps on trumpet by Emma Glascock and Liam Tucker with the duo standing on opposite ends of the auditorium’s stage.