Kate Howard
News Editor
Tomorrow, the September 11, Ten Years After assembly, organized by History Department Head Richard Webb, will be held in the auditorium. The assembly will feature a panel discussion led by six speakers including VOICES of September 11th co-founder Mary Fetchet, author of “Messages: Signs, Visits and Premonitions from Loved Ones Lost on 9/11″ Bonnie McEneaney, among others. There will also be performances by the NCHS Madrigals and the band.
Mr.Webb, who has been preparing the event since last January, said students should attend to gain further insight about 9/11 and reflect on what has happened since. “Adults are still processing what 9/11 is all about and therefore I thought kids might need help too,” he said. “These kids were in second grade when this happened and were aware something happened, just not quite sure what. So, the goal is to get people to process just exactly what happened on that day and how it has changed us ten years down the line.”
Director of Business Development of VOICES Frank Fetchet, another organizer of the symposium, expects students to walk away considering how they can get more involved with our community. “You will hear from those participating in the program, a consistent, inspirational message on how you don’t just want to focus on the tragedy of 9/11, but what has happened in their lives since then,” Mr. Fetchet said. “I hope the students will find the speakers really interesting and inspirational, so they will take away a message of hope and better understanding of how they can make a difference in their communities. There are lots of opportunities that students can consider- become EMT, volunteer at your local library, work at local charities or community project.”
Seniors Katherine Moncure, Maddy Prior and Kelly Saiz interned with VOICES over the summer and through a grant from the Young Women’s League of New Canaan, worked on the Community Response Project to expand the documentation of local stories of September 11th. “We interviewed community leaders in Fairfield County with a focus on education and religion,” Katherine said. “We recorded and transcribed the interviews and hopefully they will be posted in the Living Memorial in the future.”
The trio also helped pick out the 9/11 Living Memorial posters displayed around the school lobby as an illustration to students as to what the assembly is regarding. “The 9/11 Living Memorial posters that VOICES is sharing tells a powerful story about the response of individuals after 9/11,” Mr.Fetchet said. “The tattoo poster in particular is so moving because it demonstrates how someone was so personally touched by 9/11 that they wanted to inscribe 9/11 artwork on their body to commemorate the lives of their friends. A picture is worth a thousand words, so the pictures themselves on such a large dimension are much more impactful than just reading text.”
Because 9/11 was a defining event in our country’s history, Principal Bryan Luizzi said it is important for today’s generation of students to discuss it. “I think at the high school age, the student is mature enough to consider the significance 9/11 has in history and to understand it on a national and global level,” he said.
Maddy believes students should capitalize on the opportunity to deepen their understanding of 9/11, as it will continue to impact our country’s decisions. “In order to truly honor the people who were lost that day and to preserve knowledge of an important historic event, we must do all we can to learn about September 11th,” she said. “As the people who lived through it, we are the ones who have an opportunity to truly gain an understanding of the event and pass that knowledge onto subsequent generations.”
According to Mr. Webb, a complete comprehension of an event takes time, and this symposium is part of that process.“[9/11] has unleashed the War on Terror, which isn’t going anywhere soon and isn’t going to be resolved unfortunately anytime soon,” he said. “And I was not born at the start of the Cold War, but it certainly shaped my entire life, and that’s what the War on Terror is going to do for us. The more you can process it and figure out what is going on, the better off we will all be.”
Ms. Fetchet said students should expect to see the process of moving forward from 9/11 in attending the assembly. “In order to make our world a better place, we will have to work together to address the challenges that we face in our communities and the nation. It is a reality that young adults are an important part of solution,” she said. “Hopefully by sharing our stories, students will understand that with the love and support of your family, your friends and your community, you can overcome any challenges in life and look to the future with renewed hope.”
Photos by Kate Howard
