The morning of Sept. 11th, 2001 seemed to be just like any other in the hectic city of New York.  The remnants of summer were being whisked away by the cool fall breeze as hundreds of people and taxis hustled through the streets during the morning rush.

It was just another ordinary day until the first hijacked plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.  Two plane crashes soon followed, bringing down the Twin Towers, destroying part of the Pentagon, and killing thousands of innocent people.

“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11,” said former President Barack Obama.  

On the seventeenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, Schreiber’s own American Heroes Club decided to display American flags in front of Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School to pay tribute to the victims of this event.  The club was inspired by a similar arrangement in front of other Long Island schools, as well as St. Francis Hospital.

“It was absolutely beautiful, and I knew we had to do it.  We lost a number of great men and women on that day, and it is our duty to remember them,” said junior Andrew Athanasian. 

The club was founded last year by juniors Andrew Athanasian and Harry Hoffman.  Since then, the American Heroes Club has sought to honor those who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of our nation, and build a sense of unity among American citizens.

The club shows their support by raising money for veteran and military organizations and offering them assistance. The members thought that the flag project could help them promote their values and supply aid to the Port Washington chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

“We hoped the flags would not only make people remember those who had passed away, but also remind them about how proud they should be to be American.  9/11 was arguably one of the most tragic events in our country’s history, and we felt that it was necessary for us to create a sense of family throughout the town,” said senior and club officer Louis Blakeman.

So far, the club raised over $2000 for the VFW as almost 100 residents have donated money to sponsor the flags.  Since the creation of the club, members of the Port Washington community have shown their support for the club’s cause in many other ways.  

While the flags were being set up, many of the cars that were passing by honked their horns to show support.  Since then, the club has received letters from people thanking them for the memorial, and wishing them luck on their future endeavors. 

“I get a sense of pride every time I drive past.  I am so proud of all the club members that helped make this possible.  They deserve tremendous credit for their commitment to such a worthy cause,” said club advisor and social studies teacher Mr. George Muhlbauer. 

The club is going to continue to supply their services to the soldiers and veterans of the U.S. armed forces through their Treats-for-Troops event and holiday card writing drive.  On Veterans Day, Nov. 11th, the club plans to present the VFW with all the money they raised for them. 

“The American Heroes Club stands as a testament to what the people in this community can accomplish if they truly believe in something.  In this case, that belief is assisting those who have kept this nation safe.  We fully intend to continue to help veterans in any way possible,” said junior Harry Hoffman. 

Displaying the flags is only a sneak peek of what the American Heroes Club plans to accomplish.