Dear LaGuardia Faculty and Staff,
Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the horrific events of September 11, 2001, when almost 3,000 people were killed by the terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard United Airlines Flight 93.
Today we take time to pause and reflect on the significance of 9-11, and to honor the lives lost more than 20 years ago. We come together and encourage healing and hope to families, friends, and everyone who lost loved ones on that day.
We also recognize the bravery and sacrifices of the first responders who died in the line of duty, and of the more than 2,000 individuals that have died since 9-11 as a result of illnesses contracted at or near Ground Zero.
Here at LaGuardia we have students who were born after the attacks, or were young children on that day. They have no personal memories of the attacks, and only know about them from classes, news media, or family members and friends. As educators, New Yorkers, and Americans we have an obligation to tell the story of 9-11, to teach this history, to preserve a lasting, collective memory of the attacks.
Let this solemn occasion remind us of the importance of kindness for one another, of our commitment to building a truly inclusive community, and of our obligation to serve others in need.
Never forget.
Kenneth Adams
President