AFJROTC commemorates 9/11 with special ceremony

photo by Keren Cumpian

CAPTION: ROTC color guard members solemnly raise the flag to half-mast during the morning 9/11 memorial.

AFJROTC honored the 15th anniversary of the catastrophic event that occurred on September 11, 2001 this past Monday.

A few organizations of the community gathered around to honor and remember the victims and first responders involved in Sept. 11 attacks.

“We do the 9/11 memorial every year, and it’s very beautiful every time. Today [Sept. 12] was the best one, not only because we had the orchestra teacher, Mr. Weinelt, play Amazing Grace, but we had [Senior] Gerard Cevallos play Taps which made me want to cry, and [Junior] Chloe Delgado sing the National Anthem, and it was all just so beautiful,”  Senior Noah Woinicki said.

photo by Keren Cumpian

CAPTION: Senior Gerard Cevallos plays Taps as the sun rises on the 9/11 memorial in the Circle in front of the school.

Holmes High School is one of the few schools that commemorate the event regularly, which is why Junior Chloe Delgado and Angelica Bonilla were so honored to be a part of the memorial.

“I felt really honored to be a part of it. It was just a major thing that happened in 2001 for a lot of families so it was nice to honor those who lost their life that day and who helped those in trouble. It was just an honor to be able to organize and see all of the cadets go out and everyone else who was able to help today,” Junior Angelica Bonilla said.

With the current controversy surrounding the flag and NFL protests of police brutality with players like Colin Kapernick taking a knee during the National Anthem before games, Sergeant Robert Verastiqui is proud to see young people in school honoring and respecting the flag. Verastiqui was satisfied with the actions of his students for doing an amazing job at the memorial.

“It is awesome, especially nowadays when there are so many people not recognizing the flag, not standing up for the national anthem. It is refreshing to see young people like them do what they did up there. We had too many football players taking a knee and these young people are showing the proper respect, it is very satisfying.” Verastiqui said.