Shepard High School’s Marching Band play the national anthem at the JROTC 9/11 Memorial Service on Wednesday morning.
Shepard High School students took time last week to remember fallen heroes during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony.
On the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 11, Shepard High School JROTC students and staff members met on the school’s football field at 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights, to honor the fallen heroes of the 9/11 tragedy.
“9/11 is meaningful to me because it’s a day to honor those we lost and to remember a day that brought everyone together. It’s important to continue that even today, 23 years later,” said Spencer Harth, 17, of Crestwood.
This was the 10th year the school held the ceremony.
“We are grateful that our school leaders provide this opportunity for us each year,” said Maj. Dan Johnson, Shepard JROTC and senior aerospace science instructor. He noted that he receives plenty of positive feedback from the event.
JROTC is a military-affiliated program offered to students in high school. Shepard has won a Distinguished Unit Award from the Air Force in recent years.
The students work under the guidance of Johnson and Master Sgt. Chris Saberniak.
“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” Johnson said. “The cadets play a key role in organizing and carrying out the event. It is great to watch them demonstrate their leadership skills and teamwork. I am very impressed each year with how the cadets connect with and care about this event in our history. I know teachers really appreciate seeing this concern from our students.”
The entire school has been observing the 9/11 anniversary for more than a decade, according to staff members. However, in recent years, JROTC has taken over the remembrance ceremony.
The event continues to give both students and staff time to reflect on the day’s magnitude, Johnson said.
The morning’s remembrance began with the national anthem and a 9/11 flag ceremony, followed by JROTC members reading the names of the 2,983 victims who died on Sept. 11, 2001. The cadets obtained the list of names from 911memorial.org.
“This personalizes the tragedy,” Johnson said. “It’s easy to say about 3,000 people were killed that day, but when you listen to the names being read, you realize these were sons and daughters, brothers and sisters who didn’t come home.”
As the names were read, JROTC members walked a memorial of 56 laps around the recently renovated track at the football stadium.
“9/11 was a day very similar to today,” Johnson said. “It was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky. People were waking up, thinking, ‘Today’s going to be a great day,’ and then, in an instant, everything changed.”
The students’ passion for honoring the day is remarkable given that 9/11 occurred before they were born, school officials said.
“What I like most about the 9/11 event is that it allows Shepard’s JROTC to show our support for those who experienced 9/11,” said Joey Cardinal, 17, of Alsip. “9/11 was an extremely tragic event, and commemorating it shows the camaraderie of the country and how such a tragic event can bring everyone together.”
Shepard High School’s Color Guard opens the JROTC 9/11 Memorial Service on Wednesday morning.