September 11, 2001 was remembered in a ceremony outside the St. Mary’s County Board of Education office in Leonardtown and by the county commissioners with a proclamation for Patriot’s Day and individual recollections from the commissioners.
With school board members Dr. Sal Raspa, Marilyn Crosby and Mary Washington by his side, Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano noted that the day 11 years ago was much like today, with crystal clear skies and cool temperatures. “Imagine what you were doing that day and how it changed our lives,” he said. He asked the central office staff assembled for the remembrance to think about where they were and how ley learned about the events that unfolded in New York City, at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.
Commissioners President Francis “Jack” Russell earlier at the commissioners’ meeting said, “Certain things make an indelible imprint on your mind,” and he and the other commissioners related where they were and their reactions. Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe said, “Everyone remembers exactly where you where that day.”
During his remarks Dr. Martirano harkened back to Todd Beamer on Flight 93 and his final conversation with his wife. The superintendent then recited the words of Neil Young’s song Let’s Roll which poignantly retells that story:
Neil Young
Let’s Roll
I know I said I love you
I know you know it’s true
I got to put the phone down
And do what we got to do
One’s standing in the aisle way
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