Huntington UFSD Recognizes Remembrance Day

Those who were alive on September 11, 2001 will always remember where they were when two hijacked planes were deliberately flown into the World Trade Center’s twin towers, collapsing the structures and sending thousands of innocent Americans to their deaths.

The terrorist strikes on 9/11 hit the Huntington community hard. Many families lost loved ones and countless others were injured. Huntington High School saw six of its cherished alumni perish in the attacks.

Everyone who lived through that terrible day and its aftermath will remember the shocking loss of life as well as the remarkable courage and heroism displayed at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and on United Airlines Flight 93, which spiraled down from the sky and crashed in an open field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The shocking magnitude of death and destruction and the chaos caused by the 19 terrorists that hijacked four airplanes that morning is still difficult to put into meaningful perspective.

More than 3,000 innocent Americans lost their lives that terrible day, including 400 uniformed firefighters and police officers. Many hearts were shattered, never to be fully healed.

A quarter of a century later, the Huntington school community continues to mourn the loss of six cherished alumni who perished at the World Trade Center.

Many district employees suffered the loss of loved ones that awful September morning, including a husband and brother and the daughter of a retired teacher. Several dozen community residents were killed in the attacks. Many worked for financial service firms, which had a large presence in WTC Towers I and II while others were members of New York City’s uniformed services.

Among Huntington High School’s lost alumni were Susan Clyne-Dietrich (1977), Dennis Edwards (1984), Michelle Titolo (1985), Michael Desmond McCarthy (1986), Judson Cavalier (1993) and Joe Anchundia (1993). The grads left behind families and friends who have never completely recovered from their loss.

The eight school buildings that comprise Huntington UFSD continue to commemorate the events of 9/11 in their own respectful way, including school-wide moments of silence, poetry readings, written testimonials, group meditations, musical tributes and indoor and outdoor gatherings of students, faculty and staff.

(There will be coverage next week of 9/11 related Remembrance Day activities in each of the district’s eight buildings.)