Dear Putnam Valley Community:
It is difficult to comprehend that today marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. Twenty-five years ago, our country experienced a day that forever changed us, a day when everyone old enough to remember can still identify exactly where they were standing as the events of that morning unfolded.
Personally, I was standing alongside a colleague at Putnam Valley High School. The feelings and emotions from that day remain so raw that, even after 25 years, they can still be difficult to discuss. It is also striking to consider that not a single student currently attending Putnam Valley Schools was alive on September 11, 2001. For our students, September 11 is a historical event; for many of us, it remains a deeply personal memory.
Despite the trauma that continues to surround this anniversary, I want to take this opportunity to recognize the true heroes of that day: the courageous first responders who rushed toward danger to protect those they had sworn to serve, many of whom never returned home to their families. I also want to remember those who spent weeks and months searching through the fallen rubble, putting their own health and safety aside in the hope of helping others, only to discover years later the devastating health consequences of their service at Ground Zero.
Twenty-five years later, the impact of September 11 continues to be felt. Many members of our school community know someone who was lost that day or someone who later lost their life to the illnesses associated with their service at the World Trade Center site. For some, 25 years may feel like a lifetime ago. For others, the memories remain as vivid as ever.
Our country has experienced tremendous division in the years since September 11. Yet I will always remember how we came together in the days and weeks following the attacks to support one another and our country during one of the most challenging periods in our history. I remain hopeful that our country can once again find that sense of unity, not because we are faced with a national tragedy, but because we recognize how much stronger we are when we stand together.
The 25th anniversary of September 11 is an important opportunity to remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives, to honor the first responders and countless others who answered the call to serve, and to recognize the lasting impact their sacrifice has had on our nation and our communities.
As a school community, we have a responsibility to ensure that future generations understand not only what happened on September 11, 2001, but also the courage, compassion, sacrifice, and unity that emerged in its aftermath.
Twenty-five years later, we remember. We honor. And we will never forget.
With remembrance and hope,
Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools