On 9/11, Community Comes Together: Celebrating Gratitude Amidst Remembrance

On September 11, 2024, Maricopa High School hosted a flag-raising ceremony to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The event followed a recent evacuation of students due to a bomb threat, underscoring the importance of solidarity and remembrance in challenging times.

Students from the school’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) participated alongside local leaders, including Mayor Nancy Smith and Superintendent Tracey Lopeman. They gathered to honor the memory of those lost in the attacks, emphasizing the necessity of education around such historical events. “These young men and women were not yet born in 2001, but they need to understand the seriousness of what took place,” said Mayor Smith. She compared the responsibility of remembering 9/11 with how earlier generations educated youth about Pearl Harbor.

The ceremony featured a performance of the National Anthem by the Maricopa High School choir, complemented by a display of the Arizona, U.S., and POW/MIA flags raised by 93 cadets from both MHS and Desert Sunrise High School. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Allen E. Kirksey, who heads the JROTC program, delivered the keynote address, expressing his gratitude for the community’s attendance. “What an awesome experience,” he remarked, reflecting on the nation’s shared gratitude.

Police Chief Goodman highlighted the significance of honoring those who sacrificed their lives during the attacks. He stated, “This remembrance brings us together as a community and is part of what makes Maricopa one of the best cities in the state.” This event not only served to memorialize a pivotal moment in American history but also fostered a sense of unity among attendees, bridging the gap between generations.