Thursday, October 1, 2026
Twenty-five years have passed since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. For those who lived through that day, the passage of time has not erased the memories.
We remember where we were, whom we called, and the uncertainty that followed. We remember watching events unfold that seemed impossible to comprehend. Most important, we remember the people whose lives were taken and the families whose lives were forever changed.
I was a young teacher on Sept. 11, 2001, and I remember the day vividly and personally. I remember the fear and confusion, the quiet conversations, and the deep concern for families waiting to hear from loved ones. In Rockville Centre and many neighboring communities, the impact was immediate and deeply personal. Members of our community worked in Lower Manhattan, served as first responders or knew someone who did. Our schools were filled with children whose families were anxiously waiting for news. For some, that news was devastating.
Those memories remain with me. So does the extraordinary courage displayed by first responders that day and throughout the difficult days, months and years that followed.
To our firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, members of the military, medical professionals, and all who ran toward danger when others were trying to escape, we extend our most heartfelt gratitude. We also recognize the many first responders who later became ill because of their work at ground zero, and those who continue to live with the physical and emotional effects of their service. Their courage was not confined to one morning. For many, the sacrifice has lasted a lifetime.
In the aftermath of the attacks, our country experienced tremendous fear. We worried about what might come next, and whether we would ever feel secure again. Yet amid that fear, there was also a profound sense of pride in our nation and a renewed connection with our neighbors. People checked on one another, displayed flags, donated blood, brought food to first responders, and found countless ways to help. Differences that had seemed important suddenly felt much smaller. We were reminded that we shared something deeper.
That sense of commonality is among the most important lessons we can pass on to our students. Most of the young people in our schools today were born many years after Sept. 11. For them, it is history rather than memory. Our responsibility is to help them understand not only what happened, but also the lives behind the history. We must teach them about the innocent people who were lost, the bravery of those who responded, the grief carried by families, and the compassion that brought communities together.
The Rockville Centre Public Schools will continue to recognize Sept. 11 as the solemn day it is. Through age-appropriate lessons, remembrance ceremonies, moments of reflection and opportunities for service, we will honor those who were lost and help students understand the significance of the day. We will also continue to create opportunities for students to learn from first responders, veterans and community members whose experiences offer lessons in courage, sacrifice and service.
Remembering Sept. 11 must be about more than looking back. It should also influence how we live today. We honor those we lost when we choose empathy over division, service over self-interest and community over isolation. We honor them when we recognize our shared humanity and take responsibility for one another.
Our district’s mission calls on students to act with integrity and empathy and to lead with imagination and purpose. On this anniversary, those words carry special meaning. Schools have an important role in creating community, helping young people understand one another, and preserving the stories that must never be forgotten.
May we also remember how, during one of our country’s darkest moments, neighbors reached for one another and found strength together.
Matthew Gaven is superintendent of the Rockville Centre school district.
