“When the second tower fell, so did I.” Ms. Oliver’s words hung in the air, silencing everybody in the Co-op mainstage. To some students, the 9/11 assembly was just a school requirement. But for some adults like Ms. Oliver, Ms. Dominguez and millions of Americans, it was a heavy day of remembrance, humility and solidarity.
September 11, 2026 marked the 25th Anniversary of the infamous terrorist attacks that were launched on the United States. Early that morning in 2001, a commercial plane flew low above the bustling city of Manhattan. That plane then abruptly plowed into the North Tower of the Trade Center, causing a burgeoning cloud of smoke. Initially, pedestrians thought that this was the beginning of a tragic accident, but it was not until the South Tower was struck by a second plane that people realized that America was under attack.
At Co-op’s annual 9/11 assembly, students viewed a slideshow presentation that focused on some of the key events and some engaging questions. When students were asked about their current knowledge about 9/11, some responded with:
“Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center.”
“It changed the world forever.”
“There were four planes.”
Although these responses were pretty accurate, it barely begins to uncover the surface. Most students have heard about 9/11 through textbooks, aged videos and conversations with parents. Most know the facts but never really got to understand the severity of the issue.
Co-op sophomore Nikey said she originally thought the presentation was going to be a waste of time. But after the presentation Nikey said that she learned more about how conflicts in Israel relate to anti-Muslim sentiment in the US. She said she also didn’t know what the World Trade Center was before the presentation and wants to learn more about it and how the terrorist attacks in New York has impacted people around the world.
This was also the case for Co-op sophomore Aubrielle. “Before, I didn't really understand the importance of knowing about it.” But from her perspective, the assembly really gave her a “clearer understanding about what happened”. Some of the slides featured in the presentation included a video titled “BOATLIFT: An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience” which captured shots of sailors saving fleeing pedestrians as well as numerous catastrophic clips of the buildings collapsing.
While some students attending the mainstage event drifted to sleep, others were quite attentive, absorbing as much information as they could. Most especially, when band teacher Ms. Dominguez recited a heartbreaking monologue about her memories from that day. “I remember my heart beating out of my chest for a second. I remember everyone playing that song (“God Bless America”) around me with tears streaming down their faces.”
Her profound anecdote was immediately met with applause from the audience. Along with a reassuring hand on the shoulder from Ms. Oliver, displaying a sense of shared understanding with Ms. Dominguez.
The assembly finally concluded with Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s In Need of Love Today”, and as students clapped and sang along, the auditorium was filled with a sense of unity, understanding and proper reflection.