Sept. 10, 2019 By Allie Griffin
Tomorrow will be the first 9/11 in which students in all public schools across the state will take a moment of silence to remember the lives lost in the tragedy eighteen years ago, thanks to two Queens lawmakers.
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill establishing September 11th Remembrance Day into law yesterday. The bill was sponsored by State Senator Joseph Addabbo and Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato, who both represent parts of Queens.
The law mandates that public school students and teachers observe a brief moment of silence at the beginning of the school day every September 11th to encourage dialogue and education on the attacks.
The lawmakers said it will ensure future generations have an understanding of the tragedy and its place in history.
“Students graduating from High School as part of the Class of 2019 were just newborns during the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001, and soon enough there will be no students in the national public school system born at the time of 9/11,” Pheffer Amato said.
“By mandating a brief moment of silent reflection every year, we may ensure that future generations will better understand this day and its significance in our history.”
Sen. Addabbo said he was grateful that Governor Cuomo signed the bill.
“I am hopeful that this new law will mean that the significance of the tragic events of September 11th, whether it be the loss of loved ones or the largest rescue operation our nation ever witnessed, will be forever acknowledged by school students too young to have witnessed this life-changing day,” Addabbo said.
Effective immediately, the law makes sure the mantra associated with the day, “Never Forget,” will always remain true.
“9/11 was one of the single darkest periods in this state’s and this nation’s history, and we owe it to those we lost and to the countless heroes who ran toward danger that day and the days that followed to do everything we can to keep their memory alive,” Governor Cuomo said. “By establishing this annual day of remembrance and a brief moment of silence in public schools, we will help ensure we never forget — not just the pain of that moment but of the courage, sacrifice and outpouring of love that defined our response.”
29 Comments
i bet no new yorker will ever risk their life in a disaster after the way the victims of the fallout were treated by the government for 9/11. thank you politicians for make it crystal clear for us on how much we matter.
#blameTrump #orangemanbad #alabamarock!
Or is hashtags about the best you can do? Sad!
“Separation of church and state” is in an essay by Thomas Jefferson…it is not in the Constitution….after Trump gets re-elected and we weed out the Marxists from SCOTUS we will institute prayer in schools…Muslims, Christians and Jews all on board…and yes children can choose not to pray also….because diversity
Yes- Sounds like a true utopia everyone praying to invisible Gods, even some invisible gods in their own image. In the attached link you can hear and see Trumps views on the Bible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qNcmzaWvZI
Good bill. We who witnessed that horrible day will never forget, and future generations will need to never forget too.
This will offend the students and families in Astoria and bayridge.
This will offend trailer park residents in Alabama
What a big stereotype! That’s like me saying all hipsters drink soy milk and live in expensive luxury condos!
No hipsters are just pot heads and burden to theyre parents get it right
“They’re parents get it right”??
thats good, do it a day before so theres no time for the few that hate this country to say they don’t want to participate
mike c- You obviously hate this country and its values. You won’t even take the timeout and learn to read English.
@mike c Our 4 year old daughter accuses people of hate when there is a bed time disagreement…LOL Are you for real?
A friend here in Astoria had a tenant , a young man, who never came home from work that day. May God bless everyone; every one reading has their own memories and stories . And they’re all important. Take it easy.
Bike Lanes!!!
Only took 18 years!
It is nice to see that our lawmakers finally realize the importance of a moment of silent prayer is important in our schools and a wonderful way to remember those lost in this horrible tragedy.
I’ll use the moment of silence to reflect on my lost relatives friends and neighbors. If praying is your thing than that’s fine too just respect my right not to pray to invisible gods.thanks for the politicization of the comment stream.
It is a totally non-political statement.
Everyone prays to someone or something to conter themselves.
Your post most certainly is a political statement in the religious realm. “A moment of silent prayer is important in our schools”.
prayer
/prer/
A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship.
“I’ll say a prayer for him”
a moment of silence is not prayer.
There is no god, a moment of silence isn’t prayer, and separation of church and state is what makes us different from Iran.
It’s “a brief moment of silence” not prayer. Keep god and other deities out of our public schools.
Remeber that 9/11 was an inside job. There… I said it.
But should you have?
The truth should always be known.
Debunked Fake News! And bad spelling.
Still living in your parents basement?