The 9/11 Peace Pole

It’s difficult to imagine that there is anyone over the age of 21 who doesn’t vividly remember the exact moment when they heard the news of an American Airlines Boeing 767 crashing into the World Trade Center. We sat, glued to the television, only to horrifyingly witness a second plane crashing into the second tower. News began to leak of the devastation at the Pentagon and the plane crash in Pennsylvania. We were shocked, desperate for answers, with feelings of fear and disbelief.

 

September 11, 2001, fell on a Tuesday morning. As educators, we were faced with the daunting task of deciding how to best approach the worst act of terrorism in the United States with our innocent, impressionable young students. We spoke honestly yet gently with our classes, wanting to desperately shield them from the evils of the world.

 

It didn’t take long for the stories of heroism and selfless acts to surface. The generosity of people near and far proved that humanity existed despite the tragedy. The community of Gander, Canada, who hosted hundreds of stranded passengers when planes were grounded, the boat owners who rushed to New York risking their own safety to help evacuate Lower Manhattan, the multitudes of first responders, many of whom made the greatest sacrifice, all remind us that people care and good will prevail.

 

As a tribute to those good citizens, in the spring of 2003, the Meadows Lower School planted a Peace Pole in the Center Court Garden. The white obelisk stands about six feet tall and displays “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in four different languages. Inside the pole are messages of peace written by the 360 Lower School students of 2003. Additionally, as the pole was dedicated, Lower School students verbally expressed messages of peace in the language of their heritage - 22 of them!

 

Over fifteen years later, the peace pole still stands today as a reminder of the goodness of people. While there will always be darkness in the world, children need to hear of the positive effects people have on each other and on the Earth. We can always find a silver lining in a dark cloud. When negativity monopolizes the news, search for the silver lining. Children need to be reassured that people are good.

 

Kathy Brennan

Lower School Teacher