Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

PHS students show their patriotism

Students at Prescott High School showed their patriotism with a special program, Tuesday, Oct. 9.

It began with Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA," being played as students gathered in the PHS auditorium.

Once the students had settled down, Willie Wilson reminded them why they were there. "We have declared war on Afghanistan and it's a serious matter," he said. "We need to be in a serious mindset and show respect for our great nation."

PHS Student Council President Rebecca Barfield said the students had gathered to recognize those who perished in the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

She reminded all how classroom televisions were tuned into CNN for two days when the attacks first occurred.

Barfield was followed by the PHS Band playing "God Bless America."

The feature of the assembly was a power point presentation by students in the East Lab program.

Photos taken from the front pages of newspapers across the nation were shown, accompanied by music.

The photos showed how the twin towers of the World Trade Center looked before two planes flew into them, along with there being a shot of the second plane shortly before it hit the tower.

Background voices proved to be eyewitness accounts of the attack in New York, while there were people running from the falling debris shown on screen. Those on the ground were grey, covered with concrete dust. The scene was compared to a major volcanic eruption.

There were also photos of the Pentagon after it was hit by a terrorist attack.

Perhaps the most touching shot, though, was of the crashed plane outside Pittsburgh, Penn. Passengers on this plane, after being told they were going to die by terrorists, fought back, overpowered their captors, giving their lives in preventing the plane from being crashed into the White House.

President George W. Bush was shown as he gave the statement borders would not prevent the United States from going after the terrorists and those who harbor them.

Signs showing New York City closed, a historic first, were splashed on the screen, as were shots of firefighters and rescue personnel.

The national anthem played when a flag was flown in a pile of debris, while the auditorium was dead silent.

The number 11 was prominent in the attack, but the why wasn't given. September is the ninth month of the year and the attack was on the 11th day of the month. This gives the numbers 9-1-1, which added together equals 11.

Afghanistan, Washington, D.C. and New York City all have 11 letters in them.

9-1-1 is also the emergency telephone number used in America, and adds up to 11.

One of the flights had 92 passengers, while another had 65. The numbers 9-2 and 6-5 each add up to be 11.

On Sept. 11, there are 111 days left in the year, unless it's a leap year.

The area code for Afghanistan is 1-1-9, also adding up to 11.

Christy Wyman gave a reading about "Old Glory" with Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American" playing softly in the background.

Yvonne Thomas followed, singing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Wilson ended the assembly by telling the students the student council raised $629 for the relief effort, though its goal was $500.

The money will go to the New York branch of the American Red Cross.