We Will Never Forget

I want to extend a huge "Thank You" to all the men and women who help, and have died to help, protect this great nation and our citizens--police officers, firefighters, military personnel and so many more. 

This prayer expresses a beautiful sentiment more eloquently than I could:

A Healing Prayer by Reverend Wintley Phipps

God, we come to you a nation in pain.
Hate has wounded us yet again.
We watched in horror as men whose hearts were filled with hatred, destroyed the lives of thousands of innocent people.
But our hearts also swelled with pride as we saw hundreds of Americans, whose hearts were filled with love and service, sacrifice their lives trying to save others. The brave firemen, who marched undaunted into those burning buildings. Those co-workers who perished because they refused to leave the side of the paralyzed or the infirmed.
We find so much hope in their heroism.
Last week, our nation lost so many good people, and for years to come we will all hunger for their smiles, for their laughter, for their counsel, for their fellowship.
This tragedy has cast a shadow of fear and sadness over our nation and today we weep for the innocent who have left us.
We mourn for those who have been taken from us.
Those precious children on their first plane ride.
That father, in pursuit of his career.
That mother trying to keep her children clothed and fed.
That young professional trying to make ends meet.
When we think of them, we are overwhelmed by what seems like an unbearable sense of loss.
But God, help us to remember that just as every flower in a storm is safe with you, we know the innocent are safe also, God, in your care.
Because of your love we believe we will see our loved ones again.
Help us to remember that in our sorrow we do not weep alone.
You weep with us.

If you need help talking about 9/11 with your kids, here are some great resources and books I've found:

America is Under Attack is a beautifully illustrated account of the events of 9/11. 

One of School Library Journal’s Best Nonfiction Books of 2011. One of Horn Book’s Best Nonfiction Books of 2011. 

On the ten year anniversary of the September 11 tragedy, a straightforward and sensitive book for a generation of readers too young to remember that terrible day.

The events of September 11, 2001 changed the world forever. In the fourth installment of the Actual Times series, Don Brown narrates the events of the day in a way that is both accessible and understandable for young readers. Straightforward and honest, this account moves chronologically through the morning, from the plane hijackings to the crashes at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania; from the rescue operations at the WTC site to the collapse of the buildings. Vivid watercolor illustrations capture the emotion and pathos of the tragedy making this an important book about an unforgettable day in American history.

September 11, part of the We the People series, is a straightforward but unwatered down approach.  

On a bright sunny morning on September 11, 2001, hijackers took control of four U.S. commercial airplanes. The terrorists crashed two planes into two World Trade Center Towers in New York City. Forty minutes later, hijackers crashed another plane into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Passengers on a fourth hijacked plane resisted, and the plane crashed in an empty Pennsylvania field. The tragic events of September 11 killed nearly 3,000 people, scarred Americans, and changed the world forever.

14 Cows for America is such a sweet picture book about how even the smallest person can make a difference and offer compassion and healing.

In June of 2002, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya.
An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed on the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unsought and unexpected as it is extraordinary.

A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely from American and Maasai as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away.

Word of the gift will travel news wires around the globe. Many will be profoundly touched, but for Americans, this selfless gesture will have deeper meaning still. For a heartsick nation, the gift of fourteen cows emerges from the choking dust and darkness as a soft light of hope_and friendship.

Fireboat is another picture book with a different spin on 9/11.

The John J. Harvey fireboat was the largest, fastest, shiniest fireboatof its time, but by 1995, the city didn't need old fireboats anymore. So the Harvey retired, until a group of friends decided to save it from the scrap heap. Then, one sunny September day in 2001, something so horrible happened that the whole world shook. And a call came from the fire department, asking if the Harvey could battle the roaring flames. In this inspiring true story, Maira Kalman brings a New York City icon to life and proves that old heroes never die.

There are a couple of online resources as well: 

September 11: A Day to Remember coloring book 

September 11, 2001, will be a day that Americans will never forget.  In the midst of tragedy, we saw an amazing patriotic spirit rise up.  September 11 A Day to Remember Coloring Book is a simple way to explain this event to children.  It's also a reminder of the heroics displayed as a result. It is recommended for children in second through fifth grades.

For older students, Teachers Pay Teachers has a great freebie called 9/11 Service Project & Writing Prompt.

This is a free download you can use immediately to honor and remember those who acted heroically on and after September 11, 2001.

I created a writing prompt and grading rubric and included links to Scholastic's lesson plans if you'd like to do an entire unit.