On Friday, Sept. 9, Killeen ISD and the community surrounding Fort Hood will make good on a promise to remember.
Once again, the school district is set to host area cities and military leaders in a ceremony and walk to remember 9/11 and to honor law enforcement first responders.
This year’s event is about telling the story.
“Everyone living that day has a story,” said KISD Community Relations Director Angenet Wilkerson. “As we continue this journey, we want to give others an opportunity to tell that story.”
The remembrance begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Ellison High School auditorium.
The event includes a video presentation, remarks from leaders and participation from KISD high school students. It concludes with a walk.
Participants will make the short walk from the auditorium to the Ellison stadium and complete a lap alongside students and special guests.
It was 21 years ago that hijacked commercial aircraft crashed into the World Trade Center towers in the heart of New York City and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., shocking the world and galvanizing American resolve against terrorism.
The attacks also brought a wave of unity and support for military heroes and for law enforcement personnel.
It’s that unity, said Wilkerson, that makes the annual remembrance so important.
“When one of us hurts, we all hurt,” she said. “The nation was hurt as a whole and we continue to heal together.”
A series of KISD leaders is featured in this year’s video that will play during the ceremony. Their stories from that day, while different, are deeply connected.
“This day brings us back to one accord,” Wilkerson said. “We all came together as one to protect our land and to protect our freedom.”
PICTURES IN THIS STORY
The images featured in this story show students honoring the military and first responders during campus events in past years.
The largest photo at the top shows a campus parade at Peebles Elementary School in 2007 with students wearing American flags.
Another photo shows a similar parade in 2011 outside Ira Cross Elementary School. The photo featuring the girl dressed as a firefighter in the foreground is at the same school in the same year.
The image of the students peaking above the Humvee is at Fowler Elementary School on Trimmier Road in 2007. The students releasing balloons are at Palo Alto Middle School in 2007.
The artwork at left was made by students at Pershing Park Elementary School last year that says it all:
A Hero Keeps Me Safe.
