By Sara Ballenger
Los Altos High School’s Wind Ensemble’s performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” set a decidedly patriotic mood at a campuswide memorial assembly last Friday for the victims of last week’s terrorist attacks. The assembly was part of a national day of prayer and remembrance.
“The president declared today as a day of honor and prayer for the people of New York,” said Principal George Perez. “We hold this assembly to honor them.”
With a large American flag as a backdrop, students and staff stood and said the Pledge of Allegiance and listened to students reflections about the tragedy.
“Sept. 11 will be a new day in U.S. history,” said speaker Lindsey Stephens, a junior. “It will be the day our generation of peace realized we live in a world in which there is so much to be done.”
Some students worry about the threat of war.
“I now lie questioning myself, ‘Will I be here tomorrow?’” said speaker Avni Patel, a junior. “Revenge - shall we strike back?”
The choir, LAHS Girls Twenty-One sang “Think on Me,” by James Mulholland, followed by a moment of silence.
“It’s a time to mourn our loss, a time to re-prioritize our values, and maybe above all, a time to tell our families and friends that we love them,” Stephens said.
The moment of silence was followed by the LAHS Main Street Singers performing “Agnus Dei” by Ron Kean, and the LAHS Wind Ensemble and Concert Choir performing “America, The Beautiful” by Samuel Augustus Ward.
“We needed to do something at the school for kids to acknowledge what’s going on,” said English teacher Galen Rosenberg. “All week, people have been concerned about how the kids are feeling and how they are reacting. We’ve talked a lot about it. My sense of the mood (of the assembly) was positive.”
Students seem to echo Rosenberg’s sentiment.
“I think it’s great to get together and do this,” said Cassandra Clifton, a senior who sat in the audience. “Whatever goes on, we can be as one to help each other out. We can all pull together.”
A sense of solidarity was strong when the students and staff joined the Wind Ensemble in singing Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”
“When was the last time you saw Democrats and Republicans standing shoulder to shoulder singing ‘God Bless America’?” asked speaker Jon Young, a junior. “I saw it on Sept. 11, 2001. A day that will live on in infamy for it will be the day the United States of America forgot its differences.”
In the upcoming weeks, students and staff at LAHS will be planting a tree on campus dedicated to the memory of the victims of the attacks, they will be passing out red, white, and blue ribbons to wear in remembrance and there will be New York relief fund donation containers in all classrooms.
The proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross.
For more information, call Los Altos High School at 960-8811.
