Friday, September 9, 2016
Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance Message from Mrs. Kreps
Staff and Students:
Sunday, September 11th, 2016, will be the fifteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a failed terrorist attempt directed at Washington, DC. September Eleventh is now recognized as Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
A large majority of the Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy-Seven who lost their lives that day were men and women who had gone to work that morning, like any other day, and found themselves victims of a terrorist attack. Countless first responders, such as firemen and police officers, risked their lives to come to their aid. Four Hundred and Eleven of those first responders lost their lives attempting to save others.
On Patriot Day, we stop to remember.
Since the attacks on Nine Eleven, tens of thousands of Americans serving in our military, have been wounded or killed in battle.
Ten servicemen from Monroe County are among the military personnel who have been killed since Nine Eleven. Among those are: Marine Private First Class Juan G Garza, 20, of Temperance; Army Master Sargent William Lee Payne, 46 of Monroe; Army Private First Class Dennis J. Miller Jr. of LaSalle; Marine Lance Corporal Allan Klein, 34 of Monroe; Army National Guard Captain Lowell Thomas Miller II, 35 of Monroe; Army Private First Class Nicholas J. Greer, 21 of Monroe; Marine Corporal Gary A. Koehler, 21 of Milan; Army Sargent Christopher P. Messer, 28 of Raisinville Township; Army Private First Class Eric W. Hario, 19, of Monroe; and Army Sargent Michael Ingram Jr., 23, of Monroe.
Today, we remember the victims and their families of Nine Eleven and the first responders who sacrificed their lives that day. We would also like to remember our servicemen and servicewomen who sacrificed their lives for freedom for all since Nine Eleven and those who continue to serve so we, as a nation, can remain free and be kept safe from future acts of terrorism. We honor these brave Americans, and let us keep their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. In remembrance, please join me in observing a moment of silence.
Thank You
The President and CEO of National September Eleven Memorial and Museum, Joe Daniels, encourages us to find ways to participate in Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance, and he suggests that one of the most powerful ways to do this is performing acts of service in your communities. He believes that if you choose to commemorate the anniversary of Nine Eleven, you are playing an important part in honoring those who were killed, honoring the sacrifices of the first responders, and remembering the spirit of unity that emerged in the aftermath of Nine Eleven.
I know I remember how this spirit of unity in the aftermath of Nine Eleven pulled our country together, so to help ignite this unity every day, I encourage each of you to look for ways to help your classmates and community. It is through helping others that we strengthen our country.
On Sunday, September 11th, please take time to remember and serve.
Tonight, before the start of our home football game, the Monroe Football and Football Mother’s Club will be recognizing and showing appreciation for our military who have served and are currently serving.
Thank you for sharing in this message of remembrance. We are Monroe.