Wentzville Schools Observed Patriot Day

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, many schools in the held special events for Patriot Day.

At , Principal Laura Bates spoke to the children about the importance of remembering the events of that bright Tuesday morning ten years ago, and asked for a moment of silence. The assembly closed with a rousing version of “Freedom, Freedom” led by music teacher Molly Ragusky.

Fifth grader Carson Brown said “I was only a few month’s old, but my parents always remind me that it’s a big deal, and a lot of people have died and risked their lives to protect our country.”

At , the annual Student Council election speeches are held on Patriot Day to remind students of the importance of the democratic process, and the sacrifices that individuals have made to insure that our country remains a democracy.

At , events included a visit by a bald eagle and World Trade Center survivor Kevin Boyer, who told the students what it was like to be in the south tower when it was hit on that fateful day.

Boyer was on the 70th floor, and he described to the students how he was running down the stairs while first responders were running up, and how many of them didn’t make it out when the building collapsed.

“Students try to understand, they’ve seen the video over the years, but most of these kids weren’t even born yet when it happened,” said Principal Richard Beauchamp. “I think meeting and hearing from someone who was actually there, it becomes a lot more real for them.”

The activities concluded with a red, white, and blue balloon launch, an event that Crossroads also held on the first and fifth anniversary of Sept. 11.

Students will keep track of the date and location of where the tagged balloons are found, adding a math and science curricular element to the release. In 2001, a tag was returned from a balloon that was found 20 miles off the east coast of Florida.