Deer Park High School marked the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, with a day of remembrance that honored lives lost both within the local community and at the World Trade Center.

That morning, Principal Charlie Cobb and members of the school’s Patriot Club gathered on the front lawn for a memorial ceremony honoring the 12 Deer Park community members who lost their lives in the attacks. Led by advisers Joe Alo and Lisa Kiernan, Patriot Club members placed 12 wreaths, each representing one of those individuals.

The remembrance continued in physical education classes, where students learned about the courage and selflessness of Welles Crowther, known as “The Man in the Red Bandanna,” who died while helping others escape the South Tower. After watching an ESPN-produced video about Crowther’s actions, students reflected on what it means to put others first and took part in a stair-climbing activity on the bleachers designed to give them a small sense of the physical demands faced by those inside the towers.

“This lesson was about much more than physical education,” teacher Brian Tower said. “It was an opportunity for our students to reflect on the importance of courage, perseverance, compassion, sacrifice and selflessness, while honoring the memory of Welles Crowther and all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.”

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