The American flag waves in the wind, honoring those who died on September 11, 2001.
On September 11, 2017, millions of people around the world honored those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks that took place in New York City in 2001. Roughly 3,000 innocent citizens and first responders were killed, impacting thousands of families. Since that fateful day, schools, businesses, and organizations in the United States have followed the annual tradition of honoring those who died and the families who were affected. However, Choate Rosemary Hall did not bother to recognize September 11th as a day to honor and remember those who died in the terrorist attacks.
Many teachers took the time to acknowledge what occurred on September 11, 2001 by talking about the events in class or even taking a moment of silence or reflection. However, the Administration failed to send out an email to the student body or make an announcement during school meeting the following day. The school did not even take the time to lower the flags to half-mast. There were many opportunities for the Choate administration to acknowledge what had happened on 9/11, but instead they failed to recognize its annual remembrance.
There are many people on Choate campus who are now wondering why Choate did not do anything on the anniversary of 9/11. The shocking events that took place on 9/11 deeply affected millions of people around the world, not just Americans. Dozens of countries expressed sympathy to the United States and millions of people donated money, supplies, and blood for the victims.
Although many may want to forget what occurred on 9/11, the people of the United States and the rest of the world cannot forget what happened. In order to move on from what happened, schools, businesses, and other people around the world must honor and remember the innocent people who died on 9/11. What the Administration failed to realize was the emotional significance that 9/11 holds for its students and faculty. Several members of the Choate community most likely knew someone who died or was deeply affected by the tragedies that took place on 9/11. The lack of acknowledgment of 9/11 on behalf of the Administration shows that the school does not want to make a big deal out of remembering 9/11. But a big deal is exactly what the school should be making.
With all the hate and violence currently circulating across the globe, it is crucial to be as one across the Choate community. Students and faculty at Choate have different political views, are from different places around the world, and follow different religions. But as different and as diverse as the Choate community is, we are still a single body of people. The Choate community should come together to support the many people around the world who have suffered from tragedies and horrific events. This is a crucial time in which we need to accept what has happened in the past and learn from it going forward. That is why Choate Rosemary Hall and the rest of the world should never forget 9/11.
