Today marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. For the second year in a row, the Middletown High School NJROTC honored the lives that were lost on that tragic day with a flag ceremony.

Soon before 8:46 a.m., the time of the first attack on the North Tower, the cadets lined the bus loop around the flagpole, with the grass decorated with flags. Also in attendance were several Board of Education members, school administrators, district staff, and the fire departments of Mechanicstown Ladder 21 and Middletown Engine 4.

In a procession with the Honor Guard, the Flag Detail approached the flagpole. Chief Kyle Slingerland presented a speech detailing the timeline of the attacks and the meaning that this day holds for our nation. Eight cadets joined Chief Slingerland in reading out the names and hometowns of 54 victims who hailed from Orange County, NY. The American flag was raised at half-mast, followed by the national anthem sung by Cadet Zoey Lawla. The victims of 9/11 were remembered with a moment of silence and a bugle performance of "Taps" played by Mr. Barry Schnipper from American Legion Post 1181.

Students and staff members were able to watch the ceremony through a livestream in the classrooms. A recording of the ceremony is available below.

Thank you to all of the participants in the ceremony, including:

• Honor Guard: Cadet in Charge Elijah Aponte; Cadet Members: Jhordy Suquilanda Zamora, Benjamin Gonzalez, Sergio Soberano Hernandez, Yamil Linares, and Gerardo Contreras.
• Flag Detail: Cadet Commanding Officer Dayana Sanchez, with Cadets Camila Rodriguez Florentino and Anghelyk Quijano Colon.
• Name Readers (in order):  Cadets Sofia Orth, Krisette Vivaldo, Alina Vega, Joseph Galdamez, Guadalup DeLaRosa Cuenca, Angel Hernandez, Nelly Hernandez, and Stacy Mendez.
• National Anthem Singer: Cadet Zoey Lawla
• Bugler: Mr. Barry Schnipper, American Legion Post 1181
• Fire Departments: Mechanicstown Ladder 21 and Middletown Engine 4
• Cadet Leadership Team: Commanding Officer Dayana Sanchez, Executive Officer Mackenzy Hagan, Cadet Senior Enlisted Advisor Krisette Vivaldo, Cadet Operations Officer Camila Rodriguez Florentino, Cadet Special Project Officer Anghelyk Quijano Colon, and Cadet Safety Officer Allanah Smith.