Sunday will marked the tenth anniversary of the terrorists attacks on our country. I still remember it like it was yesterday. Sunday morning I woke up and realized that most or all of my students were not even born on that awful day. Until this year, my students either had some memory of that day, or they have been told stories about where they were, where their parents were, and the terror that unfolded that September morning.
So how do I explain the significance of this day to my fourth grade students? I'm not sure. I might start by telling them how Lauren Y walked into my fifth grade classroom said, "Mrs. Coker, did you know that an airplane just crashed into one of those big towers in New York?"
I told her I hadn't heard a word about it. I justified in my mind that a pilot had possibly had a medical condition and unfortunately flown into the tower. How sad. Now to educate the future.
As the morning progressed, classroom phones were ringing all over our open building. Something strange was going on, but we weren't sure what. A teacher would receive a phone call from a babysitter, a parent, a spouse, then we would huddle together in the middle of our classrooms and pass along the newest information.... and gasp....and pray....and wonder what was going on in our country.
We were instructed to let no students on the Internet. Students began to check out of school. At recess, we were told all teachers would stand on the perimeter of the playground. Our students played innocently for perhaps the last time in their lives. But some were onto us. They knew something was up, and they wanted to know what ..... but we didn't know. Not really.
As the day progressed, we were told that all flights were grounded indefinitely. President Bush was flying from a school in Florida to Barksdale Air Force Base- located in Bossier City, Louisiana. Really? Was the media really telling the world where the President was going? It was true. President Bush visited our own BAFB that terrible day.
Finally, the remaining students left to go home, and I could go get my babies. Both were at FBB Wee Center. I raced to get them. When I got them home, I hugged them a little tighter never taking my eyes off of the national news- now with a ticker running at the bottom- sometimes two.
PT was four at the time and quite upset that Cartoon Network had interrupted the cartoons to broadcast the latest tidbit of information coming from Ground Zero.
I put the kids to bed early and watched as towers continued to burn and fall. Total shock!
Professional football and baseball games were postponed. Our country couldn't grasp the magnitude of these attacks. Everything stopped that day.
As time passed, our country showed a real sense of patriotism. Flags flew from homes in every neighborhood. Patriotic tshirts and hats were everywhere and on everyone. Americans showed their patriotism and pride in a way they never had! And heroes were born.....
First responders were recognized for the risky jobs they perform each day. The military was called upon to fight, and our country was behind them. Neighbors checked on their neighbors. Strangers were a little kinder and more considerate to each other.
And heroes were born.....
I believe that is what I will tell my fourth graders. During one of the darkest days in our county's history, heroes were born.
I will introduce them to Todd Beamer and his pregnant wife, Lisa. I will attempt to explain how Todd Beamer loved his wife, his kids, and his God. That Todd was just an ordinary guy-but did something extraordinary by charging that cockpit with his buddies to retake the plane that was heading for the Capital Building in DC. Ordinary guy that had the character to do something extraordinary. An American Hero.
And then there's Pat Tillman. Pat played football for the Arizona Cardinals. After September 11th, he quietly left fame, fortune, and football to train to be a US Army Ranger. (Now that's a man! We have his football jersey & will fight over who gets to wear it Friday) Pat trained quietly to become a ranger. Pat and his brother trained with this elite group so together they could help fight the War on Terror. Amazing!Leaving it all behind - and who knew? Another American Hero.
John 15:13(NIV) says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." As stories are told and retold this week, ten years later, let's tell our children about our American Heroes. Those who were just everyday people, but called upon to perform extraordinary tasks.
I think that is called.......Leaving a Legacy!
So how do I explain the significance of this day to my fourth grade students? I'm not sure. I might start by telling them how Lauren Y walked into my fifth grade classroom said, "Mrs. Coker, did you know that an airplane just crashed into one of those big towers in New York?"
I told her I hadn't heard a word about it. I justified in my mind that a pilot had possibly had a medical condition and unfortunately flown into the tower. How sad. Now to educate the future.
As the morning progressed, classroom phones were ringing all over our open building. Something strange was going on, but we weren't sure what. A teacher would receive a phone call from a babysitter, a parent, a spouse, then we would huddle together in the middle of our classrooms and pass along the newest information.... and gasp....and pray....and wonder what was going on in our country.
We were instructed to let no students on the Internet. Students began to check out of school. At recess, we were told all teachers would stand on the perimeter of the playground. Our students played innocently for perhaps the last time in their lives. But some were onto us. They knew something was up, and they wanted to know what ..... but we didn't know. Not really.
As the day progressed, we were told that all flights were grounded indefinitely. President Bush was flying from a school in Florida to Barksdale Air Force Base- located in Bossier City, Louisiana. Really? Was the media really telling the world where the President was going? It was true. President Bush visited our own BAFB that terrible day.
Finally, the remaining students left to go home, and I could go get my babies. Both were at FBB Wee Center. I raced to get them. When I got them home, I hugged them a little tighter never taking my eyes off of the national news- now with a ticker running at the bottom- sometimes two.
PT was four at the time and quite upset that Cartoon Network had interrupted the cartoons to broadcast the latest tidbit of information coming from Ground Zero.
I put the kids to bed early and watched as towers continued to burn and fall. Total shock!
Professional football and baseball games were postponed. Our country couldn't grasp the magnitude of these attacks. Everything stopped that day.
As time passed, our country showed a real sense of patriotism. Flags flew from homes in every neighborhood. Patriotic tshirts and hats were everywhere and on everyone. Americans showed their patriotism and pride in a way they never had! And heroes were born.....
First responders were recognized for the risky jobs they perform each day. The military was called upon to fight, and our country was behind them. Neighbors checked on their neighbors. Strangers were a little kinder and more considerate to each other.
And heroes were born.....
I believe that is what I will tell my fourth graders. During one of the darkest days in our county's history, heroes were born.
I will introduce them to Todd Beamer and his pregnant wife, Lisa. I will attempt to explain how Todd Beamer loved his wife, his kids, and his God. That Todd was just an ordinary guy-but did something extraordinary by charging that cockpit with his buddies to retake the plane that was heading for the Capital Building in DC. Ordinary guy that had the character to do something extraordinary. An American Hero.
And then there's Pat Tillman. Pat played football for the Arizona Cardinals. After September 11th, he quietly left fame, fortune, and football to train to be a US Army Ranger. (Now that's a man! We have his football jersey & will fight over who gets to wear it Friday) Pat trained quietly to become a ranger. Pat and his brother trained with this elite group so together they could help fight the War on Terror. Amazing!Leaving it all behind - and who knew? Another American Hero.
John 15:13(NIV) says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." As stories are told and retold this week, ten years later, let's tell our children about our American Heroes. Those who were just everyday people, but called upon to perform extraordinary tasks.
I think that is called.......Leaving a Legacy!
This was such a great post, Dawn!
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