Malverne Students, Teachers Reflect on 9/11

"Many of our fifth graders weren’t born yet on that fateful day," Howard T. Herber Middle School Principal Steven Gilhuley told the students and faculty gathered Monday for a 9/11 service.

He continued,"But every adult in this auditorium remembers it as if it were yesterday.”

A day after the 10th anniversary of the attacks, he invited everyone to “reflect, pause and honor the 2,800 heroes who died at the hands of terrorists."

A handful of teachers then came up on stage to share their recollections of 9/11. Laura Pulitano recalled the fear she felt for her brother, who was a first responder that day.

“Yesterday I called my brother and told him I loved him, as I do every Sept. 11," she said. "Good things do come out of tragedy. My wish for you is for world peace. You have to let it begin with you.”

 Matthew Rosen recalled two of his close friends, both NYC firefighters, who perished that day.

“It is very comforting for us to know that these two good friends happened to be together that day," he told the students. "They are gone from our sight but never from our memories.”

Ann Marie Henderson happened to be working across the street from the Twin Towers at the time but that morning she was running late and missed her usual train to get to her building.

“That was the train that arrived at the station when the plane hit the tower," she recalled. "It was a miracle that I took another train that day and am here to tell you this story."

She told the students, "On that day we saw so many true Americans, just wanting to help one another. I felt like a true American that day and I do to this day.”

The students also rose from their chairs to recite a poem called 'List of 'Don’t Forgets' and 'Remembers,' and the ceremony concluded with a slideshow presentation entitled, “Never Forget.”