It Literally Takes Your Heart And Breaks It – Local Students Describe Their Visit To 9/11 Memorial
September 11, 2013
It literally takes your heart and breaks it.
That’s how Northview High School senior Anna Fischer described her visit to the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. Fischer was among nine Northview High School Yearbook staff members that visited New York City in March.
The students were just 3-5 years old when the Twin Towers fell; some of them have but faint memories of the actual day. Their memories are instead shaped by what history, television and the internet has showed them over and over. The planes, the crashes. The collapses, the unimaginable aftermath.
Tuesday, one day before 9/11 and six months after their visit to the 9/11 Memorial, we asked the Northview yearbook students to describe what they felt as they stood at Ground Zero. Below are their stories, in their own words, and their photographs.
Dalton Daniel — First going to the memorial, I thought, “This is going to be so awesome!”, which is exactly how I felt about the whole trip. But as soon as I saw the small park, the north and south pools and the new construction of the World Trade Center, I was overwhelmed with amazement. Seeing the names around the pools gave me a melancholy but inspirational feeling. Needless to say, the view of the 9/11 Memorial was perfect and was one of the greatest sights I’ve ever experienced.
Anna Fischer – Standing in the place of where the two twin towers stood was a phenomenal feeling, but it was also very emotional. Walking up to the site, everything was quiet. Friends and family members of those in the accident standing by the pools, looking for their loved one’s name. Walking through the site, its like I could see the whole incident of 9/11 reenacted in my mind. It literally takes your heart and breaks it. It was such a marvelous and emotional experience, and I’d love to be able to go back.
Tamara Green — During our trip to New York, I was able to experience the 9/11 Memorial. It was very touching scenery and definitely one that I will never forget. Seeing the names of the victims that passed away during this tragedy is really what touched me the most. It was an emotional site to visit, but I am grateful that we all had a chance to honor the victims.
Justin King– Visiting the 9/11 Memorial was a sobering experience. I felt grief for the families who lost loved ones. It was an experience I would be happy to have again.
Kamryn Brock — While at the 9/11 Memorial I realized to never take what you have for granted because you never know what the next day will bring. I felt a lot of grief for those who lost someone during this tragedy. It was an amazing feeling when we all gathered together to say a prayer.
Bethany Reynolds — Visiting the 9/11 Memorial submersed me in emotions; it was so unreal. Only being three when the attack occurred, I remember very little. Being at the location where so many innocent lives were lost was truly saddening. The emotions I felt are almost indescribable because being there in person just tugs at your feelings in so many directions. The memorial was a quiet place where those who lost their lives are remembered and where I prayed for those still mourning over their lost loved ones. Seeing all of the names of lives lost allowed me to realize how thankful I really am for my freedom.
Julia Thorpe – Being able to visit the 9/11 memorial in New York City was surreal and humbling. In the first grade, I did not understand the impact of a terrorist attack or the collective heartache it gave our nation. For the average citizen, the passing of 9/11 each year is a day of remembrance, but for the families of those victims, each and every day is a struggle full of deep sorrow because they lost a loved one for no other reason than pure hate. Seeing the names on the memorial reminded me that those people were innocent Americans living their lives, and getting caught up in an unimaginable nightmare. Despite the sadness that the memorial brought, it also deepened my immeasurable gratitude for being able to live in this country, where the nation came together for such a tragedy and where our military defends our freedoms.
Zach Johnson — At the 9/11 Monument, I felt a lot of different emotions. From sadness, caused by the loss of so many individuals, to the thankfulness for the brave first responders, various emotions moved in me. It was clear that the monument was a sacred spot, a spot that honored everyone affected by the tragedy that occurred. I was moved at the way it affected not only me, but everyone else at the monument.
Maranda Moye – Visiting the 911 memorial was something that really made an impact on the way I think about things. Seeing the actual place where so many people were killed was almost surreal. I felt true reverence for the lives that were lost that day. I think what really shook me up was seeing a mother’s name on the memorial followed by, “her unborn child”. It makes you stop and think how fragile life truly is.
The students are pictured at the bottom of the page, scroll down.
9/11 Memorial photos by Anna Fischer, Justin King and Bethany Reynolds for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Above: Memorial to the first responders that perished at the World Trade Center site.
Above: St. Paul’s Chapel, constructed in 1766. It is the oldest public building in continuous use in Manhattan. It hosted George Washington on his Inauguration Day and survived the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Pictured above, at the 9/11 Memorial last March, are Northview High Yearbook staff members Julia Thorpe, Kamryn Brock, sponsor Alison Robinson, Anna Fischer, Maranda Moye, Bethany Reynolds, Zach Johnson, Tamara Green, Zach Johnson and Justin King. Not pictured is Megan Carroll. Julia Thorpe, Maranda Moye and Dalton Daniel have since graduated from Northview.
Grant Funds Economic Development Plan For Town Of Century
September 11, 2013
The Town of Century is set to design a Economic Development Strategic Plan.
The town was awarded a $25,000 technical assistance grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to develop the plan. The town received proposals from four companies to create the plan.
A workshop will be held on Monday, September 23 at 5:30 p.m. at town hall to hear presentations from the four firms. The full town council will then select a firm.
Man Tosses Brick Through Credit Union Door
September 11, 2013
A Century man is charged with throwing a brick through a glass door at a local credit union because he was allegedly upset with the customer service he received.
Brooks Griggs, 44, of East Pond Street, was charged with felony criminal mischief with property damage for the incident at the Pen Air Federal Credit Union on North Century Boulevard. He remained in the the Escambia County Jail Wednesday with bond set at $2,500.
“Yeah I was down there,” Brooks told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies, according to an arrest report. “I threw a brick through the door.”
He first told deputies it was none of their business why he was upset with the financial institution, but he later said he was disrespected by the staff, according the report. Griggs stated “he threw the brick through the glass door to show them they cannot treat him that way”.
The Sheriff’s Office report does not state if Griggs is a member of the credit union. He was given a trespass warning, forbidding him from returning to the business.
Search Continues For Missing Woman
September 11, 2013
Police and family members are continuing their investigation into the disappearance a Pensacola State College theater technician.
Tiffany Daniels, 25, was last seen August 12 as she left work early. Her 1999 Toyota 4Runner was found August 20 in a parking lot of Park West, near Ft. Pickens, on Pensacola beach. Her bicycle and phone were in the vehicle. Extensive searches have been conducted in the area near where her vehicle was found.
Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons said police are still asking the public to contact his department with any information they may have regarding Daniels’ location. At this point, police have said they have no reason to suspect foul play in Daniels’ disappearance.
Daniels is 5-feet 7-inches tall with blond hair and blue eyes. She has tattoos of plants growing from seeds on the top of both feet. Anyone who may have information on Daniels’ location, or her activities before, during and after her disappearance are asked to contact Detective Danny Harnett at (850) 435- 1979 or the Pensacola Police Department at (850)435-1900.
Pictured above and below. Search and rescue volunteers prepare to search Pensacola Beach near Fort Pickens for Tiffany Daniels. File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Central
September 11, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs JV and varsity teams beat the Central Jaguars in straight sets Tuesday evening.
In junior varsity action, Northview beat Central 25-18, 25-22.
Dimonique Brown had two aces and one kill for the Chiefs, while Mallory Merchant recorded four aces.
In varsity action, Northview swept three from Central, 25-16, 25-15, 27-25.
Danielle Steadham had four aces, three kills and six blocks for Northview, and Kyndall Hall had four aces and two assists.
The Lady Chiefs will head across the river to take on the Lady Royals of Jay High School on Thursday. The junior varsity plays at 5:00 and the varsity takes the court at 6 p.m. in a district game.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Northview’s varsity swept three sets from Central Tuesday in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Execution Set For 1986 Murder
September 11, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed a death warrant to execute convicted murderer William Frederick Happ on Oct. 15 at Florida State Prison near Starke. Happ, 51, was convicted in the May 24, 1986, murder of Angela Crowley in Crystal River.
Crowley, 21, was abducted while making a call from pay phone in a parking lot and taken by Happ to the Cross Florida Barge Canal, where she was beaten, sexually battered and strangled to death with her own clothes. By the time he was arrested for the murder, Happ had begun serving a prison sentence in California for an unrelated armed robbery and kidnapping.
The execution would be the second in October at Florida State Prison. Marshall Lee Gore, who has been convicted of killing two women in 1988 in Miami-Dade and Columbia counties, is set to die Oct. 1.
by The News Service of Florida
Jay Royals Name Homecoming Court
September 11, 2013
The Jay High School Homecoming Court has been named. Members are (top, L-R) Paige Smith, junior; Kayla Flowers, senior; Kaitlyn Aguirre, senior; Ashlynn Geck, senior, Sydney Lowery, senior; Danielle Harrington, sophomore; and Georgia Agrait, freshman. Below are senior court members Kayla Flowers, Kaitlyn Aguirre, Ashlynn Geck and Sydney Lowery. The Jay High School Homecoming Queen will be named on Thursday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECAT Union Sets Strike Date
September 11, 2013
ECAT drivers and employees have set an October 21 strike date if their labor disputes are not settled with the firm that manages that transit system.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1395 represents about 85 ECAT workers and about Pensacola Bay Transportation para-transit employees. The employees have worked since the summer of 2010 under an expired contract. The union has tried to negotiate a new three-year contact with the UK-basked First Transit, which has managed ECAT singe 2012.
The transit workers previously went on strike in 2011 against the prior management company, Veolia Transportation, a French Company.
Union President Michael Lowery has said it remains the goal of the union that all transit workers become public employees under the Board of County Commission but he and his team will keep an open mind. He said that all tax dollars, especially noting the new 4-cent gas tax for transit which starts in January, should remain entirely in Escambia County.
“Allowing our tax dollars to go out of our County and State or for that matter out of our Country is just not stewards of our tax dollars and helping grow our local economy,” Lowerysaid.
Cincinnati Reds To Play MLB Game In Pensacola
September 11, 2013
Pensacola will be dipping its toe into the frenzied waters of professional baseball a little earlier next year as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos host their parent Major League team, the
Reds, in an exhibition game scheduled for March 27, 2014. The announcement will be made Wednesday at 2pm from a ceremony at home plate in Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos will join executives from the Reds in announcing the contest which will kick off the 2014 season. Wahoos fans will see familiar names and faces on the Reds roster as Blue Wahoos past compete against Blue Wahoos present.
The contest, the first time since 1958 that a Major League team has played in Pensacola, is the result of months of behind-the-scenes work by Blue Wahoos and Reds executives to bring the big league team to the Bayfront.
Quint Studer, owner of the Blue Wahoos, said the long-standing history of baseball in Pensacola was part of the inspiration to bring Cincinnati to the Sunshine State.
“I have loved hearing from people who remember a half-century ago when they had the chance to see Major League players play in Pensacola. Having a Double-A affiliate team in Pensacola, the highest level of professional baseball in the City’s history continues to open up opportunities and experiences that were previously not available to the community,” said Studer.
“To watch current Reds players like Joey Votto, Homer Baily, Jay Bruce, Arnoldis Chapman, Tony Cingrani and others is an experience that we are so pleased to provide. Great college games, a Major League team playing in downtown Pensacola, then onto another wonderful Wahoos season. It looks like 2014 is going to be a very special year, and we’re grateful to Reds organization and the Blue Wahoos sponsors and fans for making this game possible,” Studer continued.
The last time a Major League team played in Pensacola was April 3, 1958. The Chicago White Sox played the St. Louis Cardinals.
Students Learn Fire Safety
September 11, 2013
A group of home-school students, ages 3-8, visited the Cantonment Fire Station Tuesday.
In addition to a lesson on home fire safety, the children received some hands-on time with some of the tools firefighters use every day. From getting the chance to sit in a fire truck, to using a real fire hose to spray water at traffic cones, the students were all smiles.
The visit ended with a visit from Sparky the fire dog who provided gifts.
Submitted by Tom Shwarz
Pictured: Home-schooled students paid a visit to the Cantonment Fire Station Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
