On Sept. 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were hijacked and flown into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center killing 2,753 people. The One World Trade Center now dominates the New York City skyline in place of the Twin Towers. “A bit of a strange feel to this day in this city,” retired CCHS science teacher Buddy Sims said. Photo by Buddy Sims.
By KENDARIUS STURDIVANT – Broadcast Staff
The Clarke Central High School JROTC program paid respect to those lost in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks with a ceremony honoring the story of 9/11.
The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington County, Va. and United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. contributed to 3,000 deaths and preceded United States involvement in Afghanistan and the Iraq War.
President Barack Obama announced on Sept. 10 that the United States will resume its involvement in Iraq in order to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) nearly three years after the end of the Iraq War.
“I think it is important for teenagers and the American public not to forget what happened on (9/11),” JROTC Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel David McMickle said.
The ceremony started with a presentation of the flag at half staff followed by a moment of silence in remembrance of the lives lost in the attacks.
Special guests attended the ceremony, including Athens-Clarke County Chief of Police Joseph H. Lumpkin, Mayor Nancy Denson, ACC firefighters and veterans.
“(It is important) that we always remember to help somebody else, always to give somebody compassion because, as America, we are one. We have the obligation to help our fallen brothers and sisters,” senior Jyrekis Collins said.
Editing by Ethan Crane and Susanna Conine-Nakano.
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