Students walk silently to commemorate 9/11

More than 100 students participated in the perennial march.

On September 11th, 2014, Curtis students gathered at the flagpole after tenth period to march down to the Staten Island 9/11 memorial. The gathering commemorated the passage of 13 years since the terrorist attack on Downtown Manhattan.

To begin this year’s walk, the NJROTC did a presentation of colors and the pledge of allegiance. Mr. Cogan also read two poems, “The Names,” by Billy Collins and “In Memoriam,” by Norman MacCaig.

The students formed two lines and were asked to remain silent. In unison the students marched down Hamilton Avenue to the Postcard Memorial. According to Emma Delgado, a sophomore, “There were so many students from Curtis. It was nice to see all of us coming together to honor those who were lost that day.”

Upon arrival the students walked through the memorial and read the names of those who were lost; some also shed tears. The students were each handed a carnations before the walk, which they had a choice of either placing in front of a name or throwing into the Hudson River. “The walk was a good way to remember those who were lost that day with respect,¨ said Kelly Murray, a sophomore.

Every year the ceremony includes an open speech portion for anyone who wants to say a few words. Many students spoke of how grateful they were for having such a loving family and friends. They also mentioned how these things shouldn’t be taken for granted. Samara Lugo, a student who spoke at the memorial shared her memory about what she recalled from that day, “My mom used to work in the city and one day she came home covered in dust. She looked so scared. She brought this guy home who we’ve never met before who had no where to go. We let him stay with us until he had somewhere he could stay.”