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News & Photos
McDonogh Commemorates September 11
Contributed By Yann-Sheu
"Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see life with a clearer view again."
Quoting Alex Tan, Student Government President Mack McGee addressed his fellow students during the Upper School assembly, emphasizing the new perspective that Americans have on their lives a year after the events of September 11, 2001. To broaden the McDonogh perspective two alumni from the Class of 1996, Kevin Cummings and David Koloski, traveled from New York to share their experiences of 9/11.
Kevin spoke about the time chronologically, from the moment his subway car halted on the Manhattan Bridge and the passengers all looked skyward to the fire on the first tower, to his volunteer efforts in the wreckage in the days that followed. He told of the terror of running for his life, the pain he saw in the faces of policemen and firemen who gave their all and wept because they could do no more and of the beauty that was found in camaraderie and patriotism. Near the end, he turned with a half-smile and said, "I'm doing better than I thought up here."
By contrast, David spoke briefly and bluntly, of his roommate whose office was in one of the towers and the futile search in hospitals and schools for the five days that followed. He was never found. David talked about the gas mask he had to wear for two weeks when he was in his downtown neighborhood as well as the passport and bill he had to show as proof each time he wanted to cross its borders. He told of the "New York nod" that happens every time a plane roars overhead and the generosity and support that he witnessed on all sides. But most of all, David talked about the spoils of terrorism: the hate that it engenders. "I was an angry, angry human and I hated . . . that's what terrorism does. It divides."
It was a long road back from that hate. David talked about channeling his anger into curiosity; learning about the culture behind the man "that sends a plane to crash into a building and kill 3,000 people," and into the planning and rebuilding process. His final message was an exhortation to the students to take advantage of the multicultural mix they find themselves in to learn from each other and understand. "The more you know, the less likely this is to happen again."
The assembly concluded with a glorious a cappella rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" by Layne H. and a stirring prayer led by Brandon E.
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"Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see life with a clearer view again."
Quoting Alex Tan, Student Government President Mack McGee addressed his fellow students during the Upper School assembly, emphasizing the new perspective that Americans have on their lives a year after the events of September 11, 2001. To broaden the McDonogh perspective two alumni from the Class of 1996, Kevin Cummings and David Koloski, traveled from New York to share their experiences of 9/11.
Kevin spoke about the time chronologically, from the moment his subway car halted on the Manhattan Bridge and the passengers all looked skyward to the fire on the first tower, to his volunteer efforts in the wreckage in the days that followed. He told of the terror of running for his life, the pain he saw in the faces of policemen and firemen who gave their all and wept because they could do no more and of the beauty that was found in camaraderie and patriotism. Near the end, he turned with a half-smile and said, "I'm doing better than I thought up here."
By contrast, David spoke briefly and bluntly, of his roommate whose office was in one of the towers and the futile search in hospitals and schools for the five days that followed. He was never found. David talked about the gas mask he had to wear for two weeks when he was in his downtown neighborhood as well as the passport and bill he had to show as proof each time he wanted to cross its borders. He told of the "New York nod" that happens every time a plane roars overhead and the generosity and support that he witnessed on all sides. But most of all, David talked about the spoils of terrorism: the hate that it engenders. "I was an angry, angry human and I hated . . . that's what terrorism does. It divides."
It was a long road back from that hate. David talked about channeling his anger into curiosity; learning about the culture behind the man "that sends a plane to crash into a building and kill 3,000 people," and into the planning and rebuilding process. His final message was an exhortation to the students to take advantage of the multicultural mix they find themselves in to learn from each other and understand. "The more you know, the less likely this is to happen again."
The assembly concluded with a glorious a cappella rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" by Layne H. and a stirring prayer led by Brandon E.