9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit Visits Cranford 2024
The Orange Avenue School PTA welcomed the newly reworked Tunnel to Towers 9/11 Institute ‘TM9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit’ at Orange Avenue School on May 29th. The public was invited to an opening ceremony in the school’s front parking lot. An estimated one hundred people were in attendance including the Cranford Police and Fire Departments, Union County Police and Fire Pipes and Drums, scout troops, school staff, students, and other community members.
OAS middle school students visited the exhibit during the school day on May 30th.
The visit is largely the result of the tremendous interest put forth by the 8th grade class, many of whom participated in an essay contest sponsored by The Tunnel to Towers Foundation 9/11 InstituteTM and The New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education. Each participant wrote an essay about the positive actions that our country and communities experienced following the attacks.
Essay themes included patriotism, unity, heroism and sacrifice. They also included a look at the improved safety standards and communication protocols that came as a result as well as a renewed call to service of community and country. Students were pleased to take on this educational challenge as the contest allowed for them to explore the attacks from a unique educational perspective. They discussed the attacks with family and friends who had lived through that time period and could offer their personal experiences. In some cases, they were surprised to find out that so much good had followed something so devastating.
The essay contest was brought to the attention of the school by Caren Villarreal, an OAS parent and PTA member whose father, FDNY Assistant Chief Gerard A. Barbara co-led the rescue effort of Tower 2 on that day and ultimately sacrificed his life. She joins Tunnel to Towers in their mission to educate future generations about both the horrific and heroic acts experienced on 9/11 and believes that in order to truly “Never Forget” we must continue to educate. Chief Barbara’s grandchildren, Thomas and Elena Villarreal attend OAS and are proud to carry on his legacy. The family joins the other members of the Cranford community who lost loved ones on that day in remembering them with honor and ongoing appreciation for their sacrifices. They also appreciate the partnership and support of the Cranford community first responders in helping to organize this event and bring it to life.
About The Tunnel to Towers Foundation
Since 9/11, we have been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. We are also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget September 11, 2001. Visit: t2t.org.
