Log In


Reset Password

Students launch patriotic campaign

Many high school students today were too young to remember 9/11.

But that doesn't mean that they can't be affected by the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.Virtually every high school will be doing something today to mark the occasion. But students at Panther Valley and Marian Catholic are going a step further.They are encouraging everyone to wear red, white and blue when their football teams play their annual rivalry game tonight.The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:10 p.m. at Panther Valley's stadium in Lansford."Instead of wearing school colors, we're asking everybody who attends the game to wear red, white and blue," PV athletic director Kristin Black said.Students from both sides are getting in on the patriotic theme, Black said. Marian and Panther Valley are planning on making announcements.The idea originated with PV senior Huntre Keip, who brought it to administrators. Just a toddler at the time of the attacks, she had some recollection of the day and the outpouring of patriotism that followed.Students have spread the word about tonight's display through social media. Posts about the event on Facebook and Twitter have been shared dozens of times."It's a big topic throughout the school," senior Zach Gilbert said. "It shows we're going to honor our country the way it should be done."Panther Valley had already been planning to mark the occasion. During their pre-game festivities, the band will be joined by members of JROTC and the volleyball and football teams.JROTC students also held a 9/11 memorial service, which has become an annual tradition at PVHS."They work so hard on it and it's an excellent representation of what 9/11 is all about," Keip said.While they have been taught about the significance of the day in school over the years, most high school students are too young to remember 9/11."I talked with some of them, some of our seniors say they remember bits and pieces, but they were so young they don't really remember what happened," Black said.

Panther Valley students are organizing a campaign to encourage people to wear red. white and blue to the game tonight. From left are: Jamey Mikovich, Huntre Keip, Megan Heckman and Kelsey Van Horn. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO.