Clarke Central High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets stand at the beginning of their student-led 9/11 ceremony on Sept. 11, 2019. Junior and Battalion Command Sergeant Major Camille Hudson believes that everyone should have a deeper understanding of the events that happened on Sept. 11, 2001. “I think that not only JROTC, (but) everyone needs (to) not just have a general knowledge (of 9/11, but also honor) it,” Hudson said. “Just because (the events of 9/11) didn’t happen to you, it was still a moment (in) history and we all need to be informed about it. But I think (we) especially (need to be informed) because we are in JROTC, and we have a little more (of) a duty to it.” Photo by Krista Shumaker
Clarke Central High School’s JROTC program canceled their annual 9/11 ceremony due to the switch to virtual learning for the week of Sept. 7-10. .
On Sept. 11, 2001, a series of four terrorist attacks were performed against the United States by the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda. To honor the almost 3,000 who died in the attacks, Clarke Central High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program holds an annual 9/11 ceremony.
Due to the switch to virtual learning for the week of Sept. 7-10 and as a result of the rise in COVID-19 numbers in Clarke County, the JROTC Instructors canceled the 2021 9/11 ceremony, which was original scheduled to take place Sept. 10.
“Out of an abundance of caution during the rise in COVID numbers in (and) around Clarke County, JROTC Instructors decided the decision was to cancel the 9/11 ceremony,” CCHS Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel David McMickle said. “Clarke Central’s pivot to virtual instruction the week of the ceremony would not have allowed the cadets to rehearse for the ceremony and transportation to/from the ceremony for those participating cadets would have been a struggle for parents (and) guardians. Hosting an event, with the number of expected attendees, even outside, would have been in direct contradiction to the reasoning behind going virtual.”
This is the second consecutive year the program has canceled the 9/11 ceremony due to virtual learning. McMickle says the cancellations have been upsetting to members of the program.
“(Members of the JROTC are) very disappointed (in the cancellation of the 9/11 ceremony) as it is an opportunity to thank our local first responders for what they do on a daily basis,” McMickle said. “(9/11) is a lesson in our history that must continue to be taught. It shows our resilience as a nation (where) people from all walks of life came together that day to help one another.”
“(9/11) is a lesson in our history that must continue to be taught. It shows our resilience as a nation (where) people from all walks of life came together that day to help one another.”
— David McMickle,
CCHS Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel
For senior and JROTC Battalion Executive Officer Catie Kiefer, honoring 9/11 is about celebrating the people who put their lives at risk and bringing the nation together, which she believes people can do even without a formal ceremony.
“For me, personally, honoring 9/11 is honoring those who, without any thought, just jumped in and decided to help our nation and who put their lives on the line for others,” Kiefer said. “I feel like (honoring 9/11 is) really important and shows that even though (our nation) gets divided a lot, we can have unity (through) hard times.”
1 comment
Good Job!!!!!!! So Proud!!
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