Every year on September 11th, Tupelo High School’s JROTC leads a solemn ceremony to honor the 2,977 lives lost in the tragic event of 2001. Held behind the Performing Arts Center, the event draws students, faculty, and community members together in remembrance of 9/11.

“We care deeply about those who were lost that day, and we want to respect them and show them honor. One of our sayings is never forget, as an American thing, so we try making sure that it’s never forgotten and we always remember those who died that day,” junior cadet Cyrus Flaherty said.

The ceremony began with Alpha Company marching to the flag pole. 

“The company formation marches up to the flag, and then the moment of silence and the speech given by the person, whoever’s speaking, then we raise the flag, full staff, and then have staff present arms, have taps play, the flag is lowered to half staff, then the company commander gives ‘Order Arms’ and we march off,” junior cadet Command Seargeant Major Carson Barber said.

Charlie Pugh played taps on trumpet.

“The ceremony of Taps [is the most significant part. That’s the key. That’s basically the big for me. That’s the biggest part of it, because you have the [song] playing in the background, the flag of half staff, and it really just brings all of the motion and the weight of the event that just happened,” junior cadet Captain Andrick Flores-Doubleday said.  

TPSD Superintendent Picou spoke, and Col Johnson summed up the reason for the event.  

“One of our goals in Junior ROTC is obviously the mission. it is to motivate young people to be better citizens. Our goal at a typical high school is to help build the character of a young person, we want to make them better citizens and the local community in help improve their grades. And for them to care that beyond high school and with five goals from a characteristic standpoint of responsibility, accountability, teamwork, leadership and discipline,” Col. Johnson said.