9/11 Reflections: B.J. Ward Students Focus on Theme, 'Remember the Heroes'

Valley View School District 365U submitted this story:

It’s important to remember “the stories of bravery and heroism” and not the “bad guys.”

That was the essence of the Patriot Day lesson B.J. Ward Elementary School teacher Steven Popp taught to his fourth graders Wednesday.

“So many people were heroes in so many different ways,” Popp told his students. “Even though bad things happen all around us, good things usually come out of a really bad event.”

Knowing his students weren’t even born on Sept. 11, 2001, Popp related the details of what happened by reading the book “September 11, 2001” by Nancy Pottenberger. He told of how his own family was concerned about his cousin’s husband who worked in the World Trade Center buildings.

“You can imagine how scary it was to wonder if he was okay. And it took a long time to get information because the telephone lines weren’t working,” he said. “But finally we found out he was sick that day with the flu and he stayed home from work. We were relieved to know he was OK.”

Popp spent most of the time focusing on “the people who came to the rescue of the people in this horrible event.” He told of heroic deeds by policeman, firemen and ordinary people.

“They were all ordinary human beings who had one thing in common … they were brave,” he said.

Following the presentation, Popp asked his students to write poems, narratives or letters on what it means to be a hero.

“People did some really brave things risking their lives to help others,” he said. “They deserve your attention.”