Sunday marked the tenth anniversary of what our generation will remember as the “day which will live in infamy.” Hundreds of people attended the LZHS 9/11 concert to honor not only those who perished in the attack, but the spirit of America, and the concert helped all of us in attendance do just that.

Nick Juknelis, choir teacher, chose a selection of songs that allowed the audience to remember all aspects of 9/11. The people, the cities, and the spirit of America were all represented at one point in the concert. In addition, Juknelis taught those of us who were young at the time of the attack more about 9/11 and the gravity of the event.

The choir, accompanied by the Wind Ensemble, saluted America’s troops by playing a medley of the anthems from each branch of the nation’s defense.  Later, the audience recognized first responders such as firefighters and policemen.

Taking time to recognize the people who serve our country was greatly appreciated by those in the audience. I myself have two family members who were soldiers and was thankful for the chance to remember and recognize the service these men and women do for our country every day.

In addition to the troops, the concert recognized the children affected by the attack. Donations from the concert, which totaled to over $2000, all went to the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation, an organization which helps provide scholarships to those children who lost parents or family members in the attack.

Thinking about all those children made me reflect on just how fortunate I am to not be in their situation. Hearing about those children without parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles due to the attack reminded me of how devastating the attack truly was.

Though I have memories and impressions from the day – mom crying, schools closed – in reality, much of what I can recount is from stories I have learned after the actual event. I felt the horror, especially living just outside of D.C. at the time, but I did not understand what was occurring in our nation; I was only seven.

Juknelis opened the concert with that same idea – that we as high schoolers are unable to recall much of the actual day of tragedy. He said in his opening statements that he not only wanted to remember the events of 9/11 through the concert, but also to teach those of us who were younger about the day and its significance.

Jan Horvath, guest Broadway singer, and Kim Kolze, principal, contributed to Juknelis’ efforts to teach the students by sharing their personal memories regarding that day. Horvath barely missed going down in the plane that was buried in Shanksville, Pennsylvania (she happened to try a different airline instead of getting on that plane), and Kolze recounted the story of a friend who almost did not make it out of the seventh tower of the World Trade Center in time.

Hearing their stories did teach me more about 9/11 – or at least, presented me with yet another perspective on the event. Not an American alive that day did not know what had occurred and did not feel some effect in one way or another. Though 9/11 tore buildings and cities apart, it brought the people of America closer than ever.

The concert ended with a final salute to the spirit Americans demonstrated on that day and continue to demonstrate ten years later. The audience joined the choir in singing “America the Beautiful” and were thoroughly showered in red, white, and blue confetti towards the final notes of the song.

Though our nation suffered greatly that day, this concert represented to me how America will always rise up from the ashes of tragedy to support the ideals we fought for long ago. My hope is that Americans will continue to show the same love for their country, just as they did ten years ago, and just as those in attendance at the concert did, that our spirit might always stretch “from sea to shining sea.”