S. Elgin takes children through events of Sept. 11
During previous Patriot Day services, South Elgin officials refrained from discussing the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with local school children.
They took a different approach at Tuesday's ceremony, with Village Administrator Larry Jones offering a vivid account of the day, starting with when the first airplane crashed at 8:46 a.m. into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
Sixteen minutes later, Jones told the students, the second airplane plowed into the south tower, and at 9:37 a.m., a third airplane struck the Pentagon.
He continued, mentioning that passengers aboard a fourth airplane, which plummeted into a field in southwest Pennsylvania, had courageously wrested control of the aircraft away from hijackers, ensuring the plane did not reach its intended target.
The terrorist attacks killed more than 3,000 people, a number that includes firefighters and police officers.
Before the program began, students had been laughing and chatting with one another. They immediately fell silent at the ceremony's start, with their somber faces showing that they were absorbing Jones' words.
"The attacks had an immediate impact," Jones told the students. "But it made us stronger."
South Elgin village, police and fire district officials organized the sixth annual Patriot Day, held at South Elgin High School.
The 500 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders from Willard, Clinton and Fox Meadow elementary schools at Tuesday's ceremony would have been between 3 and 6 years old in 2001.
But it's these children, says Fire Chief Joe Cluchey, who already understand the values of peace and freedom, as exhibited in the pieces they submitted for the program's essay contest.
It also was evident in their choice of clothing -- most either wore the colors of the American flag or shirts with patriotic messages on them.
"We think it's your generation that will make the difference," Cluchey said.
To Chad Reyes, a 12-year-old at Willard, freedom is about having the right to a trial, being able to select your own partner in marriage and living in a land of multiple religions and cultures.
"Freedoms such as those make me feel good to live in America," wrote Reyes, one of three students to win a certificate and a $25 coupon for pizza.
As a final lesson, keynote speaker Jon Tuin, principal of Willard, reminded students that freedom also means finding your passion in life then using it to help others.
"While I'm free to be me, I also need to realize it's not all about me," said Tuin, who was named Kane County's 2007 School Administrator of the Year.