Upper Township Middle School Remembers Sept. 11

PETERSBURG – Josie Spinelli well remembers Sept. 11, 2001, and all the ensuing years. Spinelli, a social studies teacher at the Upper Township Middle School, was directly affected along with her immediate family by the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington and on one plane, United Flight 93 that crashed in western Pennsylvania. 
“Very simply, Sept. 11 has a personal meaning for my family and myself,” explains Spinelli. Mark Ryan McGinly, only 26 years old at the time, was killed in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Mark was the son of my husband’s cousin. His death has had a profound effect on my family and myself, and none of us will ever be the same. He is the reason that I began the tradition at my school to highlight the tragic events of Sept. 11.”
With that motivation, Spinelli has been organizing commemorative events at the school after significant yearly milestones, the first anniversary, fifth, 10th and the 15th, held Sept. 9.
With some teachers and students, representing grades 7 and 8, wearing patriotic clothes in red, white and blue in attendance, Spinelli held a heartfelt and heart-moving ceremony to remember the more than 3,000 people who lost their lives because of that day.
Attending the ceremony on behalf of the municipality were Upper Township Committee members Hobart Young and Jeffrey Pierson.
Karen Mitchell represented the Strathmere Fire Department.
Marmora Fire Department officers and first responders arrived in a large fire truck prominently displaying American flags.
“This is a day never to be forgotten and as President Bush said steel will shatter but not our country’s foundation. When the first plane hit the World Trade Center, everyone thought it was a freak accident, but then we realized we were being attacked.
“There was a lot of bravery shown that day by so many people including the 343 first responders who lost their lives rescuing others and the passengers on Flight 93 with their ‘let’s roll’ courage,” said Spinelli.
During the program, groups of students took turns to provide narratives as well as music for the remembrances. One group of students narrated the timeline of Sept. 11 with a chime sounding between each description. Another group played a flute rendition of “America, the Beautiful” preceded by a moment of silence for all the victims and their families.
The ceremony concluded with the Middle School choir leading the gathering in singing “God Bless America” followed by the release of a small bouquet of red, white and blue balloons.
“I’ve read that many of the victims’ families, especially those who were children at the time, go to special camps to receive support and connections and spend time with others who suffered and are suffering through this terrible experience. At the end of camp, they release balloons with names of all those they want to remember who were lost because of Sept. 11. Our balloons have no names and represent all those who were affected,” summed up Spinelli, with all those gathered departing by calling out “God Bless America.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.