Lawrentians Gather in Remembrance of September 11

Today, Lawrentians gathered around the School Peace Pole to honor those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City; Washington, D.C.; and Shanksville, Pa.

Welcome bells from the Edith Memorial Chapel, played by School organist and mathematics teacher Anton Fleissner, called the community together at 10 a.m. Head of School Steve Murray opened the ceremony, reminding those gathered that there are times and places to study and seek to understand the tragedy of September 11, 2001, as well as to simply pause and remember the lives that were lost. “We come together this morning to recall the names of those we lost, who were part of Lawrenceville, and in doing so, to remind ourselves that, in fact, they are still part of Lawrenceville and close to our hearts.”

Members of the 2026–27 Student Council, Fifth Formers Grace Weekes, Sonia Shum, Noah Chen, Kai Sugimoto, Rania Yakubu, Gabriel Vermut, Celestine Sutter, Colton Stecchini, Isabelle Lee, and Christian Lopez-Watt, read the names and biographies of the Lawrentians who died in the attacks (listed below). Student Religious Life Leaders (all Fifth Formers) Shivam Nemade, Renny Donaldson, Jamie Ho, Rachel Blecher, Ameen Rizwan, and Sara Chander joined School Chaplain and Religion and Philosophy teacher Rev. Violet Lee in reciting Amanda Gorman’s “This Sacred Scene.”

Dean of Students Blake Eldridge ‘96 noted that the impact 9/11 had on the School is not unique. But it is special in how Lawrenceville has come together to remember, reflect, and honor those lost. “Our community, its faculty, staff, students, and families, came together on that day to support each other. And on this day, it can rededicate itself to building a community where our strength comes from the contributions of each of us.”

Religion and Philosophy teacher Eduardo Hernandez closed the gathering with a reading of Surah Ash-Sharh (The Relief), the 94th chapter of the Quran. The passage concluded “...truly when there is hardship, there is also ease. So, when you are free and unburdened, be diligent, work on, and direct your requests to your Lord.”

Prior to the Peace Pole ceremony, the School’s 9/11 memorial quilt was displayed in the Bunn Library. It was created by Lawrenceville students in 2001–02 to honor the members of the Lawrenceville community who were lost in the attacks. Led by student leaders Joo Young (Julie) Lee ’02 and Jason Yeh ’02 of the Asian Student Organization (ASO), and with assistance from the organization’s faculty adviser, Claudia Casebolt, nearly 200 students contributed their own stitching to the quilt. The quilt was dedicated in the Edith Memorial Chapel during Alumni Weekend in 2002 and is kept in the Stephan Archives’ textile collection.

Lawrentians Lost on September 11, 2001