Amelia Academy Remembers 9/11
"2,993 is not just a number anymore," stated Amelia Academy sixth-grader Grady Owens as he looked around at the flags displayed on the front lawn of Amelia Academy. Friday, September 10, Amelia Academy held its annual 9/11 Never Forget program. The program began at 8:30 a.m. with an opening prayer by Amelia Academy Headmaster Dr. George Martin. Following the opening prayer Angela Anderson led the gathering in singing the National Anthem.
"It was circle time, and Mrs. Nelson was reading to us on the morning of September 11, 2001," said Lexi Pemberton, Student Government Organization president. Ms. Pemberton went on to say, "I found out about the tragic events when I got off the bus that afternoon. My mom told me about what had happened. I will never forget what I did that day, or my feeling of confusion." Ms. Pemberton said the 9/11 Never Forget program is an important tradition at Amelia Academy and around the country.
Harley Rakestraw, Veteran and Amelia Academy Spanish teacher, introduced the event's guest speaker Paul Galanti. Mr. Galanti, a 1962 graduate of the Naval Academy, earned a Silver Star, Bronze Star, nine Air Medals, and two Purple Hearts. During his service in the Vietnam War, his plane was shot down. He was subsequently held as a prisoner of war for seven years in Hanoi, North Vietnam. Paul Galanti said "there was good to come of solitary confinement as a P.O.W. We came out of it better people."
"I feel like I am coming home. It is an honor to be asked to do this," Mr. Galanti said of speaking at the 9/11 Never Forget ceremony. He spoke of the fact that our country has been attacked several times including the attack on Pearl Harbor and the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. "Everyone remembers where they were when 9/11 happened. For the first time in my lifetime, I saw this country united. The deaths of 3,000 Americans wasn't in vain. It united us more than ever before," stated Mr. Galanti. He continued saying, "We Americans have lots of freedom." Referring to his time as a P.O.W. he stated, "There is no such thing as a bad day when there is a door knob on the inside of the door."
The 9/11 Never Forget program was concluded with Amelia Academy senior Josh Poole saying a closing prayer. Following the prayer the students, faculty, alumni, and others joined together to sing Amelia Academy's Alma Mater.