Patriots Day influences staff on campus
Turning tragedy into a day of honor, on December 28, 2001, Congress declared that every September 11th be known as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. The day honors the lives of those who were killed as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.
For Frisco ISD student resource officer Brent Stanford, it is a reminder of the events that happened.
“I remember getting ready for school pictures and turning the TV on and seeing the planes strike the buildings,” Stanford said. “I just remember that day going to school and every teacher had the news on, and just kinda watching everything that took place, what happened in Washington DC with the plane that hit the Pentagon, the plane going down in Pennsylvania, it was the first time that I’d seen anything like that on a very newsworthy scale and seeing all the news stories about all the sacrifices that were made by firefighters and police officers that day really hit home.”
seeing all the news stories about all the sacrifices that were made by firefighters and police officers that day really hit home — Brent Stanford
The actions of the first responses on that day are part of Stanford’s life as an adult.
“Just going back to that time, seeing the people running from the towers, but also to see the firefighters and the police officers running the other way, it just reminds me of their sacrifice and what drives me in situations even here in Frisco,” Stanford said. “There have been crazy situations and when normal people would be running away we have the duty to be running towards the action, to be running towards the danger.”
The day holds a special meaning in the hearts of many first responders, including former firefighter-paramedic boys’ head basketball coach Stephen Friar.
“My dad was a firefighter for 33+ years and I kinda grew up with that, he was in the military as well,” Friar said. “So I think it’s just important to remember the sacrifices those guys made with the terrorist attacks and everything, and just like understanding that community as a whole wrap their arms around each other and persevere.”
Kirthi Gummadi is starting her fourth year with Wingspan and is an Executive Producer for WTV this year. In her free time you can find her hanging out...
