TGI Staff Photographer Ten days following the tragedy in New York City and Washington, D.C., about 300 students at Kekaha Elementary School joined their parents, relatives, friends, a contingent of Junior ROTC members from Waimea High School, and the color
TGI Staff Photographer
Ten days following the tragedy in New York City and Washington, D.C., about 300 students at Kekaha Elementary School joined their parents, relatives, friends, a contingent of Junior ROTC members from Waimea High School, and the color guard from Pacific Missile Range Facility in a special morning flag-raising ceremony Friday.
“We have come together today as one unit, one community, to pay tribute to our nation,” said Billie Smith, the Kekaha principal, as she welcomed the gathering around the school’s flagpole.
The morning sun beat down relentlessly as students of Ke Kula O Ni’ihau from across the street heard Smith state, “The United States of America has suffered a tragic loss. It is our patriotic duty, and our hearts’ desire, to pay respect for those lives lost; to grieve for the losses of the families of the victims; to show pride in our country; and to honor our nation’s flag for the freedom it represents.”
David Niau and Joshua Santiago led the school’s color guard unit as the pair, trooping smartly down the avenue created by saluting PMRF color guard members.
“The tragic events that have taken place very recently has affected every American citizen, and beyond,” Smith said. “Not only does out nation grieve, but so, too, do other countries. The normal reactions to such a great loss has been seen throughout our state. First shock, then sorrow, then confusion, and finally anger.
“We gathered all of you here today so we can share our spirit of support in every American’s time of sorrow. With feelings of respect, pride and honor, we could only hope to help each other frind some kind of eventual closure.”
Following the raising of the American flag to half-mast, Jenna Tumbaga and Shana Manoir-Resinto presented the state flag that restly limply in the morning stillness as strains of the “Star Spangled Banner” emanated from a portable sound system in the background.
Smith said the students and staff assembled in the cafeteria on Sept. 11 – Black Tuesday – after news was heard of the tragic events unfolding on the East Coast.
“We explained to the students what was happening to our nation. Following this assembly, they each returned to their classrooms where they could have class discussions, write essays, letters, or even sing songs to help them cope with the tragedy,” she said.
The students and their guests Friday adjourned to the the cafeteria, miniature American flags adorning the chests of each student and many of the visitors who, along with the school’s staff, were dressed in red, white and blue.
Smith used the assembly to explain the importance of the PMRF color guard.
“Our colors represent our flag which stands for freedom. Our freedom is what our country is all about. Today, when you see our color guard presenting our flags, you know that they represent our nation and everything it stands for,” she said.
The wooden floor of the cafeteria resounded with the smart thumping of boots as the color guard moved through the throng to a point off-center of the stage.
The Junior ROTC unit from Waimea High made its way to the stage as Smith pointed out that the Waimea students are the peers of Kekaha Elementary students. Having the ROTC members present was a way of showing the Kekaha student body how to honor the flag, she noted.
As if on cue, the unit smartly saluted the flag as Kekaha students watched silently.
“These are people that we know, live with, play with and work with,” Smith said. “They are just like you. They are citizens of the United States just like you. Today, they salute our flag. They salute the United States of America. And they salute you, for you are American.”
Smith said one of the symbols evident since with the terrorist attacks – the flying of flags at half-mast – survives from the days when an untidy or careless appearance characterized mourning, or the showing of grief. When a member on a ship passed away, the flag would be lowered by one flag depth down from the masthead to allow for the invisible flag of death to be flown at the top of the mast.
“Today, our nation is flying their colors at half-mast by order of the President to mourn the loss of our fellow Americans,” Smith told the sutdents. “We at Kekaha School wish to join our nation in this symbolic tradition, to show our support, and to pay tribute to our nation in their time of grief.”
As messages, thoughts and song poured forth in the small gathering at the cafeteria, it was obvious many of the students had been affected and continue to learn about the unfolding saga of Sept. 11.
Troy Lazaro, a special-education staff member at the school, belted a rendition of “America the Beautiful” as several of the school’s staff members discretely wiped tears from their eyes.
Staff photographer Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) and mailto:dfujimoto@pulitzer.net
