Pennsylvania schools to commemorate 9/11 attacks with moment of silence

All students in Pennsylvania will observe a moment of silence on Wednesday to remember the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

It is the first time that a mandatory annual commemoration of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, which killed 2,996 people in New York, Washington DC and Shanksville PS

Governor Josh Shapiro signed a bill in June requiring public and private schools to hold a moment of silence.

The new law also directs the Ministry of Education to develop and make available, starting next year, a model curriculum to teach students about the significance of what happened that day.

On 9/11, Islamic terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, flying two into the World Trade Center, collapsing the Twin Towers, and one into the Pentagon. A fourth plane was believed to be headed for the U.S. Capitol when passengers resisted, causing the plane to crash into rural Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

Cumberland Valley School District Superintendent Mark Blanchard said principals from all schools in the district will read a prepared statement to mark the moment of silence. Teachers have also been given materials to use if students have questions.

Following traditional tradition, St. Margaret Mary Catholic School in Harrisburg will celebrate the day by playing “Taps,” followed by a moment of silence and then a prayer, said Principal JoAnn Cantos.

According to spokesman Bradon Long, the West Shore School District will hold a moment of silence in the morning, with individual school principals deciding how they want to prepare students for the event and the lessons that go along with it.

Schools in the Mechanicsburg Area School District will commemorate the lives of those killed on 9/11, but each building will do so in an age-appropriate manner, said spokeswoman Tracy Panzer.

The bill requiring schools to witness the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil passed unanimously in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

According to the Department of Education, this is the only statewide time of silence mandate for Pennsylvania schools. The department shared educational materials it is making available.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Jim Haddock, D-Luzerne County, although several lawmakers had proposed legislation since 2006 to encourage or require observance of the day.

Haddock was mayor of Avoca, a small borough 150 miles from New York City, at the time of the attacks. He said he remembers the day and the calls from the FBI and Secret Service, advising the borough to patrol the local airport and watch for unusual activity.

“You wouldn’t think a small town like Avoca could be a target,” he recalled thinking that day. “It was scary.”

But the students attending school today were not born when the horrific events of that day took place and may be unaware of the heroic actions of passengers and emergency workers who saved countless lives.

That fact did not escape the notice of lawmakers, who used it as a reason to make it law. They saw it as a way to ensure that future generations of Americans would understand the significance of the day.

“9/11 was the darkest day in our country since Pearl Harbor,” said Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County, who introduced legislation similar to Haddock’s bill that passed the Senate last year. “Yet I find it shocking that this defining moment in our history goes largely unnoticed in public schools each year and receives no mention whatsoever in the state’s academic standards for history, civics and government.”

He said: “This legislation ensures that this defining moment of our generation is not forgotten and reminds us of the precious lives lost that day, as well as the families they left behind. We made a promise more than 20 years ago to never forget what happened on September 11, 2011. This legislation honors that promise.”

Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York County, had separately introduced legislation that would require the Department of Education to develop a model curriculum on 9/11. She said she hopes to see the materials made available to schools next year.

“As we look back on another commemoration of 9/11, it is more important than ever to ensure that students understand the profound impact of that day, as well as the events leading up to and following that somber day in American history,” Phillips-Hill said.

Haddock, a first-termer, said he was proud that this was his first piece of legislation to become law. He said he knew some schools had voluntarily held commemorations of the day. This measure would now make that happen everywhere. New York is among the states that have passed a similar law.

“It was just a striking moment for all Americans,” Haddock said. “This bill will ensure that people don’t forget that America was attacked on our soil.”

Jan Murphy can be reached at [email protected]Follow her on X via @JanMurphy.