9/11 assembly honors first responders and informs students

9%2F11+assembly+honors+first+responders+and+informs+students

A memorial assembly for 9/11 took place during seminar on Sept. 9.

Senior Alana Hansen presented the idea to hold an assembly to administration last year.

“Originally I just wanted to have a minute of silence to remember the tragedy,” Hansen said. “After I brought it up to the principals, it turned into an assembly and more and more people kept saying they wanted to be involved.”

Hansen said she believes it’s important to commemorate the event that took place 15 years ago.

“Obviously I have no actual memory of the terrorist attack,” Hanson said. “But this is a historic event that changed the way America functions.”

Senior Alana Hansen
Senior Alana Hansen smiles for a quick photo at the speakers podium before the assembly.

Head Principal Martin Straub agreed it is important to remember the events of September 11.

“It’s important to take a little time out of our day to remember the men and women who were involved with the attack,” Straub said.

Senator Ralph Ostmeyer, Kan. Representative Sue Boldra and the Hays City Mayor Eber Phelps attended the assembly along with representatives from the United States armed forces, Hays Police Department, Ellis County Sheriff Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Emergency Medical Services and the Hays Fire Department

First respondents and other speakers who attended the assembly.
First respondents and other speakers who attended the assembly.

“As students, we don’t learn very much about September 11,” Hansen said. “While this isn’t a time to celebrate, it is a time to remember.”

The U.S. Color Guard attended the event and participated in the Pledge of Allegiance along with the entirety of the school.

The U.S. Color Guard, by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The U.S. Color Guard, by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars.

During the assembly, Hansen presented a video entitled “Do You Remember Where You Were?”. The video showcased several people in and around the community and what they had to say about the events of Sept. 11, 15 years later. Senior Jacob Alexander and USD489 News instructor Dan Balman helped in creating this video.

Seth Kastle was one of the featured speakers at the assembly. Kastle served 16 years in the Army Reserve and retired as a Company First Sergeant. He is also the author of the children’s books, “Why is Dad So Mad?” and “Why is Mom So Mad?”.

Kastle said he wrote these books to try to help his own children understand the man he is today and to assist other military families who struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Katle speaks at the podium during the assembly.
Kastle speaks at the podium during the assembly.

“September 11 changed my life,” Kastle said. “When we talk about sacrifice, we usually just think of our men and women serving in military uniforms. But that’s not it at all. The men and women in law enforcement, fire departments and emergency medical service make sacrifices on a daily basis to preserve our way of life.”

Kastle was deployed in Jan. 2002 to Qatar then Afghanistan and Iraq in 2003.

“I’m here today to tell you that America is great,” Kastle said. “I can say this because through my military and civilian careers I have traveled to over 22 different countries in the world. America is great because of one word: freedom.”

This flag has the names of every person lost during the 9/11 tragedy.
This flag has the names of every person lost during the 9/11 tragedy written on it.

Each first respondent present at the assembly was individually recognized by Straub and Hansen. The special guests at the assembly are as follows:

James Dinkel – Army
Merle McLaren – Air Force
Stan Dreiling – Army
Al Pfeifer – Army
Seth Kastle – Army
Kathy Schupman – Army
Curtis Deines – Navy
Tom Koerner – Air Force
Stephen Wright – Army
Gary Brown – Hays Fire Department
Ryan Hagans – Hays Fire Department
Luke Scoby – Hays Fire Department
Tyler Brungart – Hays Fire Department
Justin Choitz – Hays Fire Department
Lucas Everett – Hays Fire Department
Kerry McCue – Emergency Services
Lillian Slater – Emergency Services
Angela Looney – Emergency Services
David Fitzhugh – Emergency Services
Allison Friesen – Hays Fire Department
Lyle Pantle – Hays Fire Department
Darin Myers – Ellis County Fire Department
Rusty Lindsay – Ellis County Fire Department
John Vaughn – Ellis County Fire Department
Kody Niblock – Ellis County Fire Department
Hillary Newell – Ellis County Fire Department
Wes Alstatt – Ellis County Sheriff Department
Tim Deines – Ellis County Sheriff Department
Ed Harbin – Ellis County Sheriff Department
Katelyn Jorgesen – Ellis County Sheriff Department
Scott Brown – Ellis County Sheriff Department
Mackenzie Smith – Hays Police Department
Mitch Berens – Hays Police Department
Collin Roe – Hays Police Department
Aaron Darden – Air Force
Bob Shubert – Emergency Service
Emma Moore – Emergency Service
Rick Robinson – Navy
Don Scheibler – Hays Police Department
Gary Goodchuck – Army
Ian Gray – Highway Patrol
Chris Michaelis – Army
Tim Greenwood – Hays Police Department
Christy Allen – Army National Guard
Linda Mayer – Army National Guard

The student body claps for each individual special guest at the assembly.
The student body claps for each individual special guest at the assembly.

At the end of the assembly, Straub invited the Chamber Singers to sing the National Anthem.

Outside of the building, flags were placed around the entrances.

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The flags were set up in the morning before school by Hansen and the Kiwanis Club.

In addition to the Kiwanis Club flags, Hess Services provided a crane with a flag.

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“We want to sincerely thank all of our special guests for all they do,” Straub said. “When tragedies occur, each of them are wired to respond, help, rescue, protect and save lives. We are forever in their debt for all they do to make our lives in this city, state and our nation the greatest on earth.”