Napa High students gather on seventh anniversary of tragedy

By KERANA TODOROV
Register Staff Writer

Kyle Cuddy was still in elementary school when terror struck on Sept. 11, 2001.

He remembers watching the news from New York City as he prepared to go to school that morning.

Now a sophomore at Napa High School, Kyle was among 1,200 students who attended an assembly Thursday in remembrance of the victims killed in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.

“I’m glad the high school is taking the time to honor 9/11,” said Kyle, as he entered Napa High’s gymnasium for the 30-minute assembly. Inside, students distributed as many as 1,300 white-ribbon pins in remembrance of those who died.

So was Michael Charney, a saxophone player with the Napa High School Marching Band. He said it is important to remember the victims of the attacks.

“It’s a nice gesture to all the people who lost their lives on that terrible day,” said the 18-year-old senior as he and his fellow Napa High School Marching Band members prepared to play.

After the band performed the “Star-Spangled Banner,” Ricky Hurtado, president of Napa High School’s associated student body, asked for a moment of silence in memory of the 9/11 victims.

Napa Fire Battalion Chief John Callanan reminded the students that 70 police officers and 343 New York City firefighters were among the nearly 2,800 victims killed that day.

In 2002, a city of Napa Fire Department ladder-truck engine was repainted with the names of the 343 firefighters.

As students listened intently, Callanan told the story of a New York couple that was visiting Napa about two years ago. The couple came to the downtown fire station and wanted to have a look at the equipment, he said.

Napa Fire Capt. Donnie Johnson showed the visitors Engine 1, painted in red, white and blue.

“The sad part,” Callanan said, “their son’s name was on that engine.”

So were the names of 40 other firefighters they knew, he added.

JoDell Parks, a U.S. Army recruiter, urged the teens to use the tragedy as a lesson in safety, security and how to care for their fellow Americans.

“Let us think about the future and the changes we need to make in our lives,” he said.

Hurtado, 17, led efforts to organized the 9/11 commemoration with the school’s Leadership class. In the past, the school marked the 9/11 anniversary with a moment of silence. Hurtado wanted to organize a bigger commemoration before his graduation, he said.

Napa High School Principal Barbara Franco said Thursday’s tribute was  wonderful.

“I thought it was very moving,” she said.

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