🎥 Hays High senior helps classmates learn about, remember 9/11

Alanna Hansen, HHS senior, organized an all-school assembly to remember the 15th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. — Alanna Hansen, HHS senior, organized an all-school assembly to remember Sunday’s 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

She was just two years old on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorist attacks hit America in New York City, Washington, D.C., and rural Shanksville, Pa. More than 3,000 people died.

Fifteen years later, Hays High School senior Alanna Hansen, 17, organized an all-school assembly in remembrance of that tragic day.

She knows most of the HHS students were only 3 years old or younger — or not even yet born then, “like my sister who is a freshman.” But Hansen says it’s important to learn about “something that was such an impact on America and was unexpected and it wasn’t about a certain race or religion. It was America as a whole. We were attacked and then during that time, we just kind of came together,” said Hansen.

It seems different today, she believes.

“Especially now, everybody’s kind of separating, and I think remembering days like this where we can be united again and be proud to be an American, is something that’s very important,” she said.

hfd 2 090916 — Some of the Ellis Co. first responders awaiting the start of Friday’s assembly.

She also wanted to recognize and thank local first responders and military veterans for their service.

Hansen approached HHS Principal Marty Straub last December to ask permission to work on the 9/11 project. With Straub’s support, Hansen spent the past nine months planning the event.

Kiwanis Club members placed U.S. flags around Hays High School early Friday morning.

“At first, I thought it was just gonna be something little — like a moment of silence after the announcements came on,” Hansen said. “And then I thought it was going to be maybe 20 minutes. But now, it’s come to be an hour,” she said while standing outside the school where a huge American flag was flying from Hess Crane Services in the parking lot and more U.S. flags, placed by Hays Kiwanis members, lined the sidewalks.

“It really became such a great thing and I’m so excited about today. I just want to thank everyone, especially my principal. It’s amazing what the community of Hays has brought to this,” she said with a big smile. “There’s no way I could have done this without them.”

Seth Kastle, U.S. Army Reserve-Retired, was the featured speaker.

Friday morning, HHS Gym A was filled with students and faculty, local first responders and military members, city dignitaries and state legislators who heard from guest speaker Seth Kastle, a Leadership Studies instructor at Fort Hays State University and a military veteran.

Kastle retired after 15 years from the Army Reserve as a First Sergeant in July 2014. He served substantial time in Germany, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, and spent 24 months in combat zones. He deals with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and has written two children’s books about PTSD for military families.

“When we talk about the word sacrifice, we usually just think of our men and women serving in the military. But that’s not all. Men and women in law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, first responders — all of these people sacrifice on a daily basis to preserve our way of life. … They’re putting themselves in harm’s way for our safety and security,” Kastle said, looking directly at the large contingent of first responders sitting in front of him.

Hansen and Straub visit with some of the invited guests.

“I’m here today to tell you America is great because of one word — freedom.

“It’s because men and women in public service make it so. We get to live in a land that is free from oppression. If you don’t think so, I would challenge you to speak to someone who comes from a less fortunate country. I’m sure they would gladly tell you how much better their life is here,” Kastle said.

“My dad, Trent Hansen, works at Fort Hays with him (Kastle) and went to AIT (Advanced Individual Training) with him after basic training–we kind of have connections. I asked him if he would talk and he said ‘Sure,'” Hansen explained.

Hansen's grandfather, Elden Hammerschmidt was the Hays Public Works Director, attending a work conference in Philadelphia on Sept 11, 2001. — Hansen’s grandfather, Elden Hammerschmidt was the Hays Public Works Director, attending a work conference in Philadelphia on Sept 11, 2001.

Hansen showed video interviews with people remembering where they were on that fateful day, including her grandfather Elden Hammerschmidt. He was the Hays Public Works Director at that time and attending a work-related conference in Philadelphia.

“There was a military presence on all street corners. All the planes were grounded. We had a rental car and drove it 24 hours straight from Philadelphia back home to Hays,” Hammerschmidt recalled.

Another video showed ABC’s Good Morning America live coverage as the news anchors scrambled to make sense of what they were seeing at the Twin Towers in New York City.

HHS students clap three times in recognition as each first responder's name is read. — HHS students clap three times in recognition as each first responder’s name is read.

In the audience sat members of the Hays Police Department, Hays and Ellis Co. Rural Fire Departments, Ellis Co. Sheriff’s Dept., Ellis Co. Emergency Medical Services, and the Kansas Highway Patrol, along with local military personnel and veterans. As their names were called out by Hansen and Straub, each stood and was recognized by three quick claps from the crowd.

Military recruiters were also invited to the assembly and to speak to interested students afterwards. SSgt. Aaron Darden is a U.S. Air Force recruiter based in Salina and covers much of western Kansas, including Hays.

SSgt. Aaron Darden, USAF Recruiter, Salina

“Awesome,” is how he described the assembly afterwards.

“An amazing amount of effort, time and thought went into this, keeping the memories fresh in the minds of these young adults.” Darden was in an 8th grade PE class in Franklin, Va., on Sept. 11, 2001. “We knew something tragic had happened, but had no idea of its magnitude and how America changed.

“The terrorist attacks are one reason why I serve,” Darden said.

The assembly opened with a Hays VFW color guard posting the colors, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Hansen. It ended with the national anthem sang by Hays High School’s elite Chamber Singers under the direction of Johnny Matlock.

The guests of honor were invited to join HHS students and staff for spaghetti in the school lunch room. As people filed out of the gymnasium, they were offered colorful red, white and blue wrist bands that read “9-11-2001 Freedom Is Not Free.”

Alanna Hansen is thanked by Hays Fire Chief Gary Brown for organizing the assembly.

Alanna Hansen will be 18 in February and graduate from Hays High in May. She plans to attend FHSU where she will major in wildlife biology and minor in criminal justice. She wants to become a game warden.

“I’m in government class right now and we’ve talked about 9/11. I wasn’t even thinking about this project to get class credit or anything,” she laughed.

This Flag of Honor, listing the names of all 3,??? killed on 9-11, is used by Sue Boldra in classes she teaches at FHSU. State Rep. Boldra is a former HHS government teacher. — This Flag of Honor, listing the names of the 3,092 people killed on Sept. 11, 2001, is used by Sue Boldra in classes she teaches at FHSU. State Rep. Boldra is a former HHS government teacher.

“I’ve been a proud American and patriotic since I was really little.

“I just like being able to show and share with my fellow classmates that we’re proud after 9/11, especially in Kansas,” Hansen said. “We’re not on one of the coasts. We’re right in the middle of the United States, showing people that we’re proud in tiny town Hays. It’s just awesome, I think. It’s incredible.”