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Decatur High students mark 9/11

Decatur

Decatur High students mark 9/11

Decatur High Students mark the 13th Anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. File Photo by Dan Whisenhunt
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Decatur High Students mark the 13th Anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

Decatur High Students mark the 13th Anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

Decatur High School students observed the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks today, an event that few of them remember.

Retired DHS social studies teacher Chris Billingsley remembers. He was on hand to make sure the students understood what it meant and continues to mean for our country.

“They have no memory of 9/11,” he said of the DHS students. “We’ve lost that. It’s just the teachers and parents. It has entered into history and that’s one of the problems.”

Brice Holden, battalion commander of the DHS JROTC, participating in a remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

Brice Holden, battalion commander of the DHS JROTC, participating in a remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

Brice Holden, battalion commander of the JROTC, led the proceedings. There are about 60 students in the DHS battalion, which was founded in the 1930’s. They participate in the homecoming parades and every year they throw a Christmas party for needy children.

“Our mission statement is to motivate young people to become better citizens,” he said. “Our main goal is to promote citizenship.”

Billingsley read a list of names of people connected to Georgia who died in the 9/11 attacks and a list of service members with connections to DHS that died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“More than 3,000 children lost parents on Sept. 11, 2001,” he told the students.

Chris Billingsley and DHS students mark the 13th Anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

Chris Billingsley and DHS students mark the 13th Anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

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