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Students Remember 9/11, Celebrate Freedom
(September 14, 2010) | 
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FORT HOOD, Texas (Sept. 10, 2010) — Hundreds of children, staff and parents, many donned in
patriotic appeal and waving flags, filled the bleachers and with smiles on their
faces sung Lee Greenwood's “God Bless the U.S.A.” |
Students at Smith Middle School, on Fort Hood, hosted a 9/11 Memorial
Ceremony, sponsored by the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, for their students and staff on the Smith
Middle School football field, Sept. 10.
The ceremony included a static display by the 1st Cav. Div. Horse
Detachment, a brass quintet from the 1st Cav. Div. band, the battalion's
Color Guard, military vehicle displays and six guest speakers from the 1st
Bn., 8th Cav. Regt.
The ceremony is an annual event for the school to commemorate the September
11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our nation, explained Sandra Forsythe,
principal for Smith Middle School.
“It's just an opportunity to showcase pride, |
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Staff and students wave flags and their hands and arms
as they sing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." during a 9/11 Memorial
Ceremony, sponsored by the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, held at Smith Middle School, Fort Hood, Sept.
10, 2010. |
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to continue to honor and respect our heroes today” said Forsythe. |
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She said she strives to instill that same pride into the students of her school.
For most children at Smith Middle School, they are too young to remember the
events of 9/11, but learning about it is an opportunity for them to remember the
sacrifice of the men and women who gave their lives in response to the attack.
“We have to pass that memory on to them [children] because they don't remember
it,” said Capt. Caleb Ling, the narrator for the ceremony and assistant
operations officer for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
According to, “It was an important day in our history,” said Lt. Col. Peter
Sicoli, the battalion commander. “[One] that could never be forgotten.”
When thinking of the ceremony, Simeon Davis, 12, a student at Smith Middle
School said he was sadden by the lives lost during 9/11 and has great respect
for the heroes of that day.
Ling's opening thoughts for the ceremony were twofold; remembrance of 9/11 and
celebrating America's armed forces.
Six soldiers were able to share pieces of their lives, careers and the pride
they have in serving the country with the children.
In retrospect, the children cheered and applauded for the soldiers and sang
songs to celebrate freedom and the military for which their parents serve.
“I got some energy today just seeing these kids out here singing, I really did.
I felt a lot of pride,” said Sicoli.
That same pride and energy was felt by guest speaker, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Thiem,
a targeting non-commissioned officer for HHC.
“It feels good to be able to come out and make some kind of connection with the
kids, especially since their parents serve alongside us every day,” Thiem said.
The ceremony at Smith was just a prelude to two Killeen Independent School
District annual events, a “Celebration of Freedom” activity and a “Freedom Walk”
activity, said Forsythe.
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Article and photos by Army Sgt. Quentin Johnson
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
Copyright 2010
Provided
through DVIDS
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