Creating a 2004 School Plan – A Manual

Hold a 9/11 Ceremony as a Freedom’s Answer Kick-Off

Freedom’s Answer began as a response of high school students to the question so many asked after the tragedies of September 11, 2001: What can we do? Their response was to do all in their power to make freedom ring in America by maximizing voter turnout. In 2002, in 2500+ high schools students Took Ten and the voters they recruited helped set a voter turnout record for a non-presidential year – nationally and in 27 separate states.

The program continues to try to honor those who lost their life on 9/11 as well as all those who risked their lives on that day, before and since to preserve and protect our freedom, including the right to vote.

So holding a 9/11 memorial ceremony as a kick-off to the Freedom’s Answer program in this election year remains entirely fitting. Since September 11th in 2004 falls on a Saturday, the challenge is a little different, but 9/11 can be remembered and our heroes can be honored on any day of any week.

• A Candlelight Memorial Ceremony. Many Freedom’s Answer Schools are planning an outdoor ceremony (some in a special nighttime gathering outside the school) in which all students hold candles in the palm of their hands in prayerful remembrances of all who have given so much. Then as student leaders urge, they all raise their candles high over their head as a torch of freedom, and repeat the Freedom’s Answer Pledge:

  “When the Twin Towers fell, the next generation rose! I am that generation. As part of Freedom’s Answer I pledge to carry America’s torch of freedom proudly to our schools, to our homes, to our communities, to our country. We shall pass it on, one to another, as a beacon to the world.”

  Many schools, to make the ceremony even more meaningful for the students and community alike are inviting local firemen, veterans and the families of servicemen and women overseas to attend as their guests.

• Friday Night Football. In many parts of the country the tradition of Friday night football might seem a perfect opportunity (on a home game on either September 10th or 16th) to hold such a candlelight ceremony (with the honored guests and the pledge) during half-time on the field, with the band leading the assembled crowd in God Bless America. (Obviously if a school plays its home games on Saturday, whether day or night, it will be able to use the actual September 11th anniversary for the ceremony.)
  
• Taking Ten. If the ceremony is to be a kick-off of the Freedom’s Answer program it is appropriate for student speakers to ask all students present to sign-up to Take Ten. Signing up to volunteer on sheets passed around then and there may be more effective than trying to pass out Take Ten forms at the game or at the ceremony. With a record of who has signed up, the Take Ten forms can be distributed on Monday at school.
  

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