Murrieta Schools Observe 9/11

Students and faculty of the Murrieta Valley Unified School District reflected Wednesday on the 12th anniversary of 9/11.

While many students may be too young to remember the terrorist attacks carried out on Sept. 11, 2001—or perhaps were not yet born—patriotism was shown at several campuses in various ways.

Alta Murrieta Elementary’s day began with a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, during which military families and first responders were recognized. Representatives from Murrieta Police and Fire Departments were on hand for the occasion.

The mood was somber at Warm Springs Middle School as eighth-graders in Dorothy Mummert’s English classes watched CNN clips of the terrorist attacks that aired on American television screens the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, District Spokeswoman Karen Parris told Patch.

Across town at Thompson Middle School, members of Bryan Boos’ choir classes put on a 9/11 Commemoration Concert. The event is something Boos said he began doing on the first anniversary of the attacks, and has carried on ever since.

“We need to remember these things,” Boos said. “We need to teach our kids about what is happening.”

The concert consisted of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” songs representing the five U.S. Military branches and “God Bless the USA.”

Sixth-grader Dylan Morrissey was among the 165 choir students who sang in the concert that was held during both lunch periods. Dylan is 10 years old, and therefore was not alive during 9/11.

If he had been, he said he would have been “super sad.”

Parents as well as community members were invited to the show.

Dylan’s mother, Terry Morrissey, said the events of Sept. 11, 2001 are something her son is aware of because they have talked about it and watched TV specials and movies on the subject.

“It was really important to be here to support this today,” Morrissey said. “It is part of our history. They have to know about what happened—as horrible as it was.”

The occasion was observed at Murrieta Valley High School by showing a video about 9/11 produced by 2013 graduate Trent Moore. (The video that was shown on the school's morning broadcast can be viewed here.)

On Friday, commemoration will continue at Antelope Hills Elementary with a ceremony dedicated to military and first responders.

Murrieta parent Brooke Wood, who attended the Thompson Middle School concert Wednesday to watch her 11-year-old daughter perform, said: “It is good for them to take the time to remember those we lost.”