Summit High School marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with a tree dedication ceremony outside the school on Friday, Sept. 11.
Principal Stacy Grimaldi rededicated a previously donated East Asian Cherry Tree in remembrance of the victims. Summit was home to roughly 3,000 residents who commuted into New York City at the time of the 2001 attacks, many working in or around the World Trade Center, according to The Verve, the school's student newspaper.
"I'm most proud of how we came together as a school, community, and a country to support the families and the first responders," Grimaldi said at the ceremony.
Violinist Nevena Bojovic performed an elegiac song to honor the victims.
A moment of silence followed.
Students, staff, student council members and residents gathered for the outdoor event. Mayor Elizabeth Fagan was among the attendees. She called the memory of that day as raw as it was 25 years ago and urged the community not to forget the innocent lives lost and the families left devastated.
The school ceremony was one of several observances across Summit that day. The city held a separate memorial at fire headquarters on 281 Broad Street at 9:45 a.m., according to the city's event calendar. That gathering featured remarks from the mayor and first responders, followed by the annual bell ringing ceremony. The fire headquarters observance was open to all residents.
The Verve's account of the school ceremony was written by student journalist Stella Colon. The original donor of the East Asian Cherry Tree and the date it was first planted at the school were not identified in available records.
Upcoming in the Summit area
- The Summit nonprofit Connection hosts its annual gala on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Berkeley Heights.
- The Summit YMCA launches a fitness passport challenge in October.
- Union County is recruiting poll workers at $300 per day for the Nov. 3 election.
