September 11 Events and Superintendent Barry's First-hand Reflections

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Many around the nation paused for a moment this past Monday in remembrance of 9/11. Several commemorative APS events took place this past week, including the following memorial ceremonies.

September 11 Events

Century Elementary
Vassar Elementary
Jewell Elementary
Students at Yale Elementary honored children who lost family members on 9/11 by forming a giant circle outside the school and singing “May all Children” by Kenneth Guilmartin.
Students at Columbia Middle School created a 9/11 Memorial Flag. The memorial stands 12' tall and 22' wide. It includes the names of the victims of September 11 and is on display at the school.

Students at several other APS schools also participated in commemoration activities.

The Tollgate Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored memorial ceremonies at Century, Vassar and Jewell elementary schools.

The events of September 11, 2001 will forever be etched in the minds of many Americans who watched the attacks on television. Superintendent John L. Barry experienced the event first hand. On Monday, September 11, 2006, Barry shared his experiences on several local morning television and radio news shows.

Barry was in the Pentagon on that sad day and saw the tragedy unfold. "We had been watching the news about the Twin Tower attacks and were concerned about an attack on Washington D.C. when we felt the explosion. My office was two corridors over and you could feel, smell and hear the impact," Barry said.

Barry worked as Director of Strategic Planning for the U.S. Air Force at the time of the attacks.


	"We evacuated, ensured everyone got out on our floor, assisted folks who needed help and then accounted for all the folks who worked for my office. As you can imagine, there was a lot of chaos and all the cell phones were overloaded and no one could get through. I did get an email to my daughter on my portable device so I could assure my family I was okay." - Superintendent John L. Barry

Barry joined students, staff, parents, police officers, firefighters and members of the military at the Vassar event.

Student Reflections on September 11

“I was 8 or 9 years old when this happened. Life did change for my parents. They got interested and wanted to learn more.”
– Maricruz
North Middle School seventh-grade student

“I was in middle school at the time and remember not knowing what was happening. I now understand how that day changed our country forever.”
– Justin
Gateway High School senior

“I don’t think that anyone will ever forget where they were when they first heard the news of 9/11. I’ll still remember that long day when I am 90.”
–Jordan
Hinkley High School senior