Freeport Public Schools Commemorate 25th Anniversary of September 11

FREEPORT, NEW YORK (September 15, 2026)— Through a variety of meaningful programs, classroom activities, and tributes across the district, Freeport Public School District students and staff marked the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. Each school shared a common focus on remembering those who were lost, honoring heroes and first responders, and reflecting on the enduring values of courage, compassion, unity, and service.
 
At Archer Street, students gathered on the front lawn beneath the American flag for a special remembrance ceremony that included a performance of “You’re a Grand Old Flag” by the third-grade Ukulele Club, a moment of silence, and a stirring rendition of “Taps.” The ceremony concluded with the school community joining together to sing “God Bless America.”
 
At Bayview Avenue, students and staff gathered as a school community dressed in red, white and blue to honor the heroes and lives lost on September 11, 2001. Two students opened the ceremony by singing “America (My Country ’Tis of Thee),” followed by a moment of silence and remembrance activities throughout the school day.
 
Leo F. Giblyn students welcomed first responders and individuals who were in the World Trade Center on September 11 as part of a special Respect Parade. Guests were honored as they traveled through the school’s hallways before students gathered in the gym for a tribute featuring “Proud to Be an American” and a poem performed by two fourth-grade students.
 
New Visions continued its annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony, bringing students and staff together to honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and recognize the courage and selflessness of first responders and the countless individuals who helped others during that tragic day. This year’s 25th anniversary made the ceremony especially meaningful, providing an opportunity to reflect on the past while teaching students the enduring values of courage, compassion, unity, and service.
 
Caroline G. Atkinson marked the anniversary by creating peace quilts, with individual quilt pieces representing peace and remembrance. Students then participated in a parade to showcase their work and celebrate messages of peace and unity.
 
At J.W. Dodd Middle School, students experienced September 11 through the personal stories of members of their own school community. To commemorate the anniversary, Dodd created a special Staff Oral History Project featuring faculty, staff, and District employees sharing personal experiences and memories of that day. Students watched the video and joined classroom discussions about courage, compassion, resilience, and the importance of preserving firsthand accounts of history.
 
At Freeport High School, members of the NJROTC lowered the flag to half-staff while students and staff reflected on the events of September 11, 2001, recounting key moments and observing moments of silence. The ceremony concluded with a moving performance of “Taps” by members of the FHS Music Department.
 
Twenty-five years later, the Freeport school community continues to ensure that the stories and lessons of September 11 are remembered and passed on to a new generation. Through firsthand stories, tributes to local heroes, messages of peace, and schoolwide observances, students were encouraged to reflect on the past while carrying forward the values of kindness, courage, compassion, and unity.