[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2366-E2367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMENDING THE CANTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL'S SEPTEMBER 11 
                          REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
students and faculty at Canton Junior/Senior High School in 
Connecticut's Sixth Congressional District for their beautifully 
touching remembrance program held in honor of the victims of the 
September 11th terrorist attacks.

[[Page E2367]]

  The students took the initiative to plan and run the entire program, 
in which stories, poems and songs were shared, honoring those who so 
unexpectedly and tragically lost their lives. They also created a chain 
of 6,000 circles, which was looped around the auditorium, to provide a 
dramatic reminder of the number of people who were thought to have died 
on that terrible day. The chain captured both the enormity of the 
tragedy and the value of each individual life. But ever optimistic, the 
chain, as one student eloquently said, was a reminder that after the 
attacks, ``the great chain of America--the chain that links every 
single citizen of our country--strengthened ten thousand fold.''
  That vital and heartfelt presentation captured the spirit of 
America's journey as we watched the unfolding events in horror and 
disbelief and then as we grieved with great sorrow at the lives and 
dreams shattered by evil. Despite the anger and hatred that has touched 
all our hearts, these students demonstrated the power of love for 
others. It is that power that will make our free and caring country 
able to defeat the hatred of those whose poverty made them easy prey 
for the preachers of death and destruction.
  I commend the students of Canton Junior/Senior High for expressing in 
words and actions the thoughts and feelings of Americans everywhere.

                            Memorial Service

                (Patriotic Paper by Lauren Schwartzman)

       September 11th. Do you feel what I feel when you hear that 
     date? Can you feel the death in that date? The tears cried by 
     three hundred million eyes for six thousand people. People 
     whose lives were so brutally, so cruelly cut short that day. 
     We are crying for those dreams shattered and lost, dreams of 
     life that will never be fulfilled.
       Can you feel the hatred in that date? The awful, black hate 
     these terrorists must feel toward us to have done such 
     unbelievable things.
       Can you feel the shock in that date? The shock of a fact we 
     have ignored for so long. That fact that maybe we are taking 
     the safety of America for granted. That maybe taking it for 
     granted has left it not so safe anymore. The shock that made 
     every American's heart skip several beats, the shock that 
     branded a look of sadness on our faces. Traces of that 
     helpless look still linger, and it will be a long, long time 
     before they completely fade away.
       Can you feel the anger in that date? The acid fire that was 
     lit in our hearts the moment we knew the names of those 
     inhuman people who attacked our country. The same fire that 
     kindles our attacks on these terrorists now. This fire will 
     also take a long time to turn to cold ashes. But can you also 
     feel that other little bit I feel in that date? Can you feel 
     in that date the great chain of America, the chain that links 
     every single citizen of our country, strengthen ten thousand 
     fold? Can you feel that? Through all of the death and tears 
     and hate and shock, can you feel that bit of unity and hope 
     shining through? That light that embodies America better than 
     any two buildings ever could. An untouchable flame that 
     cannot be doused by hate or death or any mere person! For I 
     look at America as a candle. Some people call it the fabric, 
     or the foundation, but I call it the candle. A candle built 
     by the courage of Americans, expanded by the courage of 
     Americans, protected by the courage of Americans, made free 
     by the courage of Americans, and now we must do whatever it 
     takes to protect that freedom. We must keep the flame that 
     was lit so long ago burning bright and true. For if we keep 
     on pouring our heart and soul into our songs, prayers, and 
     actions, then there is nothing and no one that can ever douse 
     the flame.

                              As One Whole

         (By Robin Engelke, Grade 8, Canton Junior High School)

     As one whole,
     we share one soul.

     We all pray and hope,
     As a nation we cope.

     Tragedies don't always bring bad,
     Look back to the one's we've already had.

     ``Always for the best.'' I say
     All I can think about is that day.

     The one where the towers fell,
     That day felt as if we went to hell.

     As one whole,
     the tragedy was a form of defeat,
     but not for America we hadn't been beat.

     As everyone fumbled to find a loved one
     In New York City there was no sun.

     No sun to shine or gleam or burn,
     Those fires did burn, but who did this to us will take their 
           turn.

     As one whole,
     we share one soul
                                 ______
                                 

                               Reflection

                            (By Louise Eich)

       September 11th, 2001 was a day when the clock stood still. 
     Loved ones ran to each other, crying, embracing as the ground 
     shook from the buildings crumbling. Firefighters and police 
     officers showed braveness needed in a war, to fight and die 
     for other's happiness. The black scorched their helmets, made 
     their throats dry and itchy, but they marched on.
       Everything stopped at that moment again, as they watched 
     the second tower fall. Silence struck the air, and the first 
     scream and siren pierced through the stillness.
       The country went through a breakdown, a cry for help as 
     everything turned to chaos. Planes were brought down, schools 
     canceled, as the city of New York shut down.
       But America stayed strong. We stepped right back up. New 
     York has been opened up again, our flags wave high, and we 
     promised to fight the evil that possessed the planes to crash 
     on us.
       We will stand strong, America. We will rebuild a nation of 
     togetherness, and we will come out victorious. They can 
     destroy our towers, but they can never destroy the 
     foundations of our hearts.

     

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