Schools across Fayette County marked the 17th anniversary of September 11 by remembering the men, women, and children who lost their lives on that tragic day and honoring those who serve and protect our country.

Young Americans for Freedom, a student organization at McIntosh High, placed 343 small American flags on the schools’ grounds to memorialize the 343 fire fighters who lost their lives.

A vintage firetruck parked on McIntosh’s campus was used as an outdoor classroom opportunity where gifted English students gathered to share their prepared commemorative poems during class.

Peeples Elementary honored Patriot Day by wearing red, white, and blue.

At Oak Grove Elementary and Whitewater Middle students participated in lessons focused on the events of September 11.

Student ambassadors at Whitewater High and Chick-fil-A Town Center in Fayetteville collaborated to host an annual recognition breakfast to honor the men and women of the Fayette County emergency services.

Sandy Creek’s Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC) hosted their first annual commemorative ceremony to honor and remember those who lost their lives on September 11.

Students and staff filled the parking lot as the AFJROTC cadets walked the American flag through columns of rifles and gathered in a uniformed formation under the school’s flag pole to raise the flag fully and then lower it at half-staff.

Principal Robert Hunter gave a commemorative speech reminding students the importance of remembering this event in history and honoring those who lives were affected, “It is against this backdrop that we try to grasp the positive from what is a scary, confusing, and surreal period in our history, especially for the students at Sandy Creek High School who were not alive when the decade old events occurred. We all feel very blessed to have you as our students and to have the responders out here in our community.”

Cadets also led the “Tolling of the Bell” where a bell rang 17 times to mark the 17 years of the tragic event.

The Fayette County and Tyrone first responders were also in attendance and received special recognition for their service.

“This ceremony is important to Sandy Creek because it is the first of its kind. Also, most of the students at Sandy Creek weren't born in 2001 and know nothing about this historic event, we want to show them why it's important to remember this date,” said Sandy Creek High’s AFJROTC program director, Major Shon Dodson.

A moment of silence was observed while a bagpipe played “Amazing Grace.”