MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Westwood middle School will hold a 9/11 Remembrance and Memorial Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday is the 18th anniversary of the day that changed the world.
Social Studies teacher Phil Caskey says his eighth grade students were not alive when the terrorist attack occurred.
Caskey said he gave them an assignment to personalize the day for each student,”Students were required to interview a family member, guardian, a parent or family member about where they were when 9/11 happened.”
The program was assembled by the Westwood vertical social studies team of Barbara Smith (6th grade), Ashley-Grandick-Peck (7th grade) and Phil Caskey (8th grade). Westwood employee, Sarah Cook was a first responder at the Flight 93 site and also has a presentation.
Caskey said,”She is a fantastic primary source, first-hand account of things that she found and saw while scouring that field in Somerset County. I don’t want to completely give it all away, it’ll make your hair on the back of your neck stand up- it’s a tear jerker.”
Also speaking at the ceremony is Morgantown police Chief Ed Preston. Preston was in lower Manhattan testifying in court as a federal employee.
Preston said,”This is the first time I’ve actually spoke to a group about this. I’ve pretty much not talked about September 11 for the last 17 years or so.”
“We have worked very hard with the planning and logistics to make this event happen for our students and our community,” Caskey said. “It is our privilege and duty to tell the 9/11 story. It is our hope that our students will recognize the significance and importance of 9/11 and that is so much more than just another page in history for them.”