UHS: 9/11 Remembrance

Dear UHS Community:

I am sharing below the announcement that was made today at the school at 8:46 a.m., commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. I do so for several reasons, not the least of which is that "moments of silence" are not something we do every day, while also recognizing the significance of the day and this somber anniversary. On a personal level, I often reflect that 9/11/01 was my fifth day as a teacher, that I had, as an undergraduate considered employment in a role that would have had me in Tower Two that morning, and that there are people I know who were lost that day, and so, perhaps, the aftermath of 9/11 is a bit more personal for me. At the same time, for a nation where 1/3 of its population was not alive when 9/11 happened, continuing to remember the events of the past is one of the most important lessons we can teach, particularly in a world that is so driven by technology, information, and impersonal interactions.

Earlier this week, I shared a number of resources with our staff for teaching about 9/11 and how it has led to a variety of initiatives, related to remembrance, historical education, and service for others. It is my hope that students have an understanding for the impact some of these events have on us all - even when they are becoming further behind in history.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with innocent lives lost, people’s friends, the brave first responders who rushed into danger,  the everyday heroes whose courage defined that tragic day, and the patriotic unity that emerged in its aftermath.

Sincerely,

Dr. Rubin

Good morning, students and staff. Today marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. 

We do so recognizing that, for many of us in the building, 9/11 is a historical moment, one that occurred before any of our students and even some of our staff were born. That day is just as far away from us today as the Kennedy Assassination was for children of the 80s, and yet we all have generational moments that define us: where were you when Pearl Harbor was bombed, when the news broke that Kennedy was shot, or when the Twin Towers fell… and the only thing they have in common is that those days started without even an inkling or hint that history was about to change, or that we were living in a generational moment.

Those of us who remember that day remember it started like any other. I was in my 5th day as a teacher, and if not for a twist of fate, would have been in Tower Two working for Morgan Stanley. Some others were starting their workdays, or were on their way to work, or were still in bed, starting the morning routine. None of us had any idea that for many it would be the last flight, the last fire call, the last trip to the office they would have, or that the world would change.

Today, 25 years later, we still face the repercussions and impact of what happened that day, whether it has been changes to the world, the politics around us, routines in an airport, or the burst of patriotism that we shared in the immediate aftermath.

Today, we reflect on how we can continue to make the world better, if nothing else because of those who gave everything in sacrifice, bravery, and innocence.

Today, we remember the 2,977 innocent lives lost, people’s friends, and parents, and siblings, and spouses, and family members. We remember the brave first responders who rushed into danger, and we remember the everyday heroes whose courage defined that tragic day and its aftermath, some of whom walk among us daily.

As a school community—and alongside schools across the nation—we honor their memory and fulfill our shared promise to never forget. It is in that spirit that I ask you, Uxbridge High School, to please join me in a minute of silence.