Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School fifth-grade students sang “Together We Can Change the World” at the Croton-on-Hudson/Buchanan/Cortlandt 9/11 Memorial Service at Croton Landing Park on Sept. 11. They were among several groups of performers, community members, local dignitaries and members of the Croton-on-Hudson fire and police departments who gathered to honor the heroes who were killed 14 years ago.
Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School music teacher Marlena Roberts, who directed the fifth-grade chorus, said she hopes her students — who weren’t yet born when the U.S. was attacked by terrorists — could learn more about 9/11 and remember the day in a positive light.
Student Nick Godek, a member of the performing chorus at the 9/11 memorial service, said he knows Sept. 11, 2001 was a day that changed lives forever. He said he felt honored to perform alongside his fellow fifth-graders.
“Even though I don’t like this day, I want to know more about it, and being at the memorial will help me learn,” he said. “It will help me mourn everyone who died.”
Gathered around the 9/11 “Reaching Through the Shadow” memorial, students and community members observed a moment of silence to remember the following community members who were killed in the attacks: William F. Abrahamson, firefighter George C. Cain, Police Officer Stephen P. Driscoll, James A. Oakley, Gregory E. Rodriguez, Thomas E. Sinton III, Randall L. Sprance and Joseph J. Zuccala.
Superintendent Dr. Edward Fuhrman said he was honored to attend the ceremony because 9/11 is an important day for all Americans to remember.
“The beautiful words and songs remind us all of the sacrifices that came before us and the importance of our freedom,” he said.
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