Article from Daily Local News

EAST FALLOWFIELD — Tradition continued Wednesday as students, faculty and community members gathered at East Fallowfield Elementary School for their annual Patriots Day Ceremony.

Nina Petro, a retired East Fallowfield teacher, helps organize this important event every year. In addition to poetry readings and touching music, a few guest speakers share a few meaningful words.

“This is a day we honor the victims of 9/11 and thank the first-responders present at this ceremony for the service they provide us and our communities,” Coatesville Area School District Interim Superintendent Rick Dunlap said.

State Sen. Andrew Dinniman, D-19, of West Whiteland and State Rep. Dan Williams, R-74, of Coatesville, were both in attendance. Dinniman had everyone in attendance hold hands as a reminder that Americans are all united. Williams thanked first-responders and spoke of the legacy of 9/11. He acknowledged that students in attendance were not born until years after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 when hijacked planes slammed into the trade center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pa., killing nearly 3,000 people. He said it is up to his generation to pass this on to the younger generations, because it is important to remember the victims and their families.

School attendance secretary, Sandra “Sam” Frost, spoke about Dr. Bridgette Miles’ fourth grade class from 2001. After 9/11, Miles had her students collect paperclips; one for every victim of 9/11. The students then arranged them in a flag shape and painted them. It still hangs in the building today.

Also in attendance were representatives from the Pennsylvania State Police, East Fallowfield Police Department, Chester County Sheriff’s Office, and Modena Fire Company.