9/11 Look Back

In wake of Hurricane Katrina, locals vow not to forget fourth anniversary of attacks
Gilroy – In the 12 days since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, relief and recovery efforts have been the focus of virtually every news station across the country. Newspaper photographs tell the stories of victims still suffering a week after the storm. While medical crews work to ease the pain, police work to keep the peace. Scores of firefighters from across the nation have assembled in the Gulf as part of the relief effort.
As the fourth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, much of the coverage has been of Katrina. But local teachers and firefighters have not forgotten – and are quietly remembering the past and the day the largest terrorist attack on American soil occurred.
On Sept. 11, 2001 four American airliners were hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists. Just before 9am the first plane crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Twenty minutes later another plane slammed into the south tower. The other two airplanes were used in separate attacks on Washington D.C. One hit the Pentagon, the other crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, the result of a passenger revolt. A total of 2,752 people died in the terrorist attacks, including 347 firefighters and paramedics.
“I think everybody’s so caught up right now in Hurricane Katrina’s recovery efforts that I hope they don’t forget about 9/11,” said Division Chief Ed Bozzo. “We don’t want people to forget about things that happened in the past.”
At 8:01am Sunday, firefighters across Gilroy will observe a minute of silence for the fallen. They will continue to do so every year, Bozzo said.
The desire to help out after Katrina is similar to what happened after 9/11, he said. Six Gilroy firefighters put in applications to volunteer in the Gulf Coast.
“After 9/11 everybody wanted to be back there and help – but you just can’t do that,” Bozzo explained.
In Gilroy High School Clint Wheeler’s history classroom Friday, he spoke of the event and showed students a book he purchased with pages of photographs from the tragedy four years ago.
While he will discuss it more in depth later in the semester, he mentioned it Friday, “just to show the importance of the event.”
However, elementary school teachers will generally avoid talking about 9/11 in detail. At El Roble Elementary School, teachers do not have curriculum for 9/11, but will answer questions as they arise.
“I think it’s just come up in reference to how they’re recovering (in New Orleans),” said Principal Mike Nebesnik. He believes 9/11 discussions may be overshadowed by the hurricane this year.
For some elementary teachers, the subject matter is not age appropriate.
“What’s appropriate at this age is safety, as to the issues of why we were attacked – we just don’t think it’s age appropriate,” said Susan Sterchi who teaches fifth grade at Rod Kelley Elementary School.
After Katrina, children have been coming in with questions and concerns after seeing images in newspapers and on television.
“More than questions, they’re telling stories. The big thing is they’re asking, “Could that happen here?” she said.
Though 9/11 is not mentioned in Gilroy Unified School District’s current history text books, South Valley Middle School principal John Perales is hoping teachers will at least touch upon the subject.
“I think it’s very important that it’s at least talked about,” he said. “Kids will probably see stuff on TV about it.”
When 9/11 occurred SVMS teacher Kristin Weiss was teaching fifth grade in a private school in San Jose.
Children were sent home to learn about what happened by their families. Afterwards, it was talked about a lot in the classroom.
In the four years since, Weiss admits that discussions have died down. However, the subject is still broached.
“(On 9/11) I think everybody talks about it no matter what subject you’re teaching because it’s such an important event,” she said.
Though 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina occurred under very different circumstances – one a natural disaster – the other, an attack on the country – Weiss explained that there is an emotional connection between the two.
“The devastation and the loss of life and the turmoil are similar,” she said.
When explaining to students the aftermath of Katrina, she said, “We are a united country … these people are just like you and me, and they need our help.”
SVMS core teacher Jamie Feci gave a presentation Friday on adjectives called “things that make you sensitive.” Both Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 were mentioned.
Feci will likely use a variety of mediums to discuss 9/11 later in the year such as old newspaper clippings and videos, so that students can actually see the images instead of just hearing about the devastation.
For the oldest of middle school students, four years ago they were in elementary school and the terrorist attacks were probably not talked about in depth.
For them, long lines going through airport security will be considered normal, a feeling that this is how things have always been, Feci said.
The word terrorism is common in their vocabulary. But four years ago it was not always so – and Feci is hoping to convey that in her explanations.
“I don’t want it to become a taboo,” she said. “They know what it means to be compassionate.”