Southdown School Honors its Heroes
The Southdown Primary School community observed the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a variety of special activities that helped students understand the event and its continued impact on the United States and the world.
Last Friday Southdown followed its 9/11 remembrance tradition of reading an appropriate poem over the school's public address system. This year a piece created by a student was read.
"We wanted to do something to commemorate the 10th anniversary that would be meaningful to our young students," Southdown Principal Michelle Marino said. "Each child was given a white or red square or a white star. Teachers developed lessons on the topic of heroes and the students created a drawing, poem or explanation of their personal hero. We assembled the individual papers into a very large American flag that is truly impressive."
Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky stopped by Southdown early in the day and saw the flag in its infant stages. "It grew significantly after Mr. Polansky saw it and everyone is very impressed and proud," Mrs. Marino said. Individual classes posed for photos before the huge flag.
The visual tribute celebrates America's freedom and forms a special Southdown Remembers Wall. "There are many moms and dads on the wall, along with brothers, sisters, doctors and bus drivers, each one unique and personal," Mrs. Marino said.