School ceremony marks 9/11

The staff and students at Sisters Elementary School gathered for a flag salute ceremony on September 11.

Sisters High School remembered September 11 last Wednesday with an assembly that captured the essence of what Americans have thought and felt as a result of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.

The assembly, which was open to the public, began with Assistant Principal Bob Macauley leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Principal Boyd Keyser introduced President Bush's proposal to observe September 11 as Patriot's Day.

"We are here to celebrate the greatest nation the world has ever known," said Keyser.

The concert band, under the direction of Jody Henderson, then performed a stirring rendition of the National Anthem.

But the heart of the program was a video production entitled "Project Never Forget." Activities Director for Summit High School in Bend, Sally Taylor-Pillar, went to New York six months after the attack with six students. They interviewed people and took video footage of Ground Zero. They put together a one-hour portrait that shows what happened on that fateful day, and how people in New York have responded.

Summit High School students Tiffany Young and Jennifer Northop, who accompanied Pillar to New York and worked on the project, introduced the video.

The video begins with dramatic ground-level footage of a jet airliner crashing into the second tower, and then shows both buildings on fire and collapsing. Background conversations record how people were reacting as they witnessed the catastrophe. The focus then shifted to footage of posters of people who are "Missing" and memorials of people who were killed.

Videographers Tiffany Young (left) and Jennifer Northop with Sally-Taylor Pillar.

Several firemen were interviewed.

"I was off duty when it happened, I knew that I had to get in to the city," one said. "We went down to the World Trade Center that first day. One woman was rescued that day from the rubble -- everyone else was dead."

Perhaps the most vivid interview came from a man who had escaped from the 54th floor.

"The floor shifted, and I heard a dull noise. I looked out the window, and saw debris falling, and I knew 'We've got to get out of here.' One person said, 'We're supposed to wait for a phone call telling us that it's clear to evacuate' and I said, 'We're not going to be getting any phone calls ­ we've got to get out now.'

"We saw people on fire, with flesh hanging off them. We saw ladies whose hair was on fire, walking like zombies. The stairwell was long and narrow. It was only wide enough for two people, and firemen were coming up. We'd let them by, and then continue on down.

The video depicted signs of hope throughout the city. Flags adorned Times Square, and people proudly voiced their patriotism. One observer commented, "You used to see people here who didn't like people. That went out the window. It has drawn this city together."

The video soundtrack included the classic "Imagine" by John Lennon, but the concluding song was the most memorable. "Rise Again, America" included a haunting arrangement of "America the Beautiful," as well as President Bush reciting the words to Romans 8:38-39.

Junior Tyrrel Godsiff commented, "The video was very moving and well-done. I was especially struck by the man who was on the 54th floor and survived."

Later that day, the student body at Sisters Elementary School gathered around the flag, flying at half mast in front of the school, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Teachers sang the national anthem, then the students and staff joined together to sing "I Remember."

Sisters Middle School also marked the anniversary with an assembly.