Palm Beach Central High School Observes 9/11 with a Commemorative Ceremony
Palm Beach Central High School students, teachers, staff and administrators will be doing a commemorative ceremony in observance to the 10 year anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001.
When? Friday, September 9, 2011 at 7:45 a.m.
Where? Palm Beach Central High School Stadium- 8499 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, FL 33411.
Some of the activities that will take place during the ceremony include Presentation of the Colors by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, an overview of the week’s theme: UNITED WE STAND: To remember, to Learn, to Live. Additionally, The Palm Beach Central Traditions choral ensemble and the Band will perform.
The highlight of the program will be speeches by two NYC first responders, Audrey Valentine and Mark Harris, who were part of the teams that assisted individuals the day of the attacks.
Audrey Valentine was a NYC Police Detective and a nurse. On 9/11 she was assigned as Liason between the NYC Medical Examiner’s office and the NY Police Department. She was stationed at 520 First Ave, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner awaiting the arrival of bodies. Audrey is also the mother of Palm Beach Central students Harrison and Sabrina Fields. Ms. Valentine’s gigantic task in the aftermath of 9/11 was to identify thousands of bodies.
Mark Harris was a Fireman/Paramedic of Battalion 22 in New York City. His team was sent to the Twin Towers just moments after he heard the first plane hit the building. He and his partners, upon arriving at Tower One, watched the second plane hit Tower Two. They were to set up a triage center at the base of the towers. While standing below and awaiting the injured, the buildings collapsed. He had to run for his life and was buried twice in rubble and debris. He suffered intense heat, damaged eye corneas (due to the cement-like dust), near suffocation and pounds of materials smashing into him. In spite of these adversities, Mark returned to his task in the tower and saved hundreds of lives.
The ceremony will be broadcasted live by The Education Network, channels 234 and 235.
For more information contact Edmund Capitano at (561) 304-1067 or via e-mail at Edmund.capitano@palmbeachschools.org.
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Public Affairs Contact: Natalia Arenas – (561) 357-7662 – natalia.arenas@palmbeachschools.org
