To Remember, or Not

I am pleased and proud that the school where I teach chose to take a moment and honor the day by having all the students stand and salute the flag while the National Anthem played throughout the school.  It is an elementary school, so none of the students have an actual memory of the events that transpired 11 years ago today.  In fact, of all the students, only the 6th graders and maybe a few 5th graders were even alive when tragedy struck and the world as we knew it changed forever.  However, I think that fact alone is strong reason to perform an act of remembrance.

My son's high school did NOT do anything to mark the significance of this day.  What an utter failure!  They missed an important opportunity to teach recent history, patriotism, and civic honor and pride to our young adults.  These are not tender young minds that need to be sheltered from the horrors of the world.  They should have been given a special media dense lesson on modern history at the very least in their history classes.  My son is in US History right now!  Yet no mention was made, probably because it isn't 'in the curriculum' and won't be featured on end of year tests.  How can we claim to always remember, never forget if we don't take the time to memorialize and reflect on what was lost that day?

I imagine my grandparents feel the same way about December 7th.  Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.  But how many really remember the day?  For most of us, the events of Pearl Harbor are just some dry facts in a history book, read once and not remembered again.  But the events are similar in scope and national/historical significance.  December 7th should be remembered.  So should September 11th.

So, again, well done Harvest Elementary.  Shame on you, American Fork High School.