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Garfield Heights City Schools Officer Doug Dillon Shares Stories of Being at Ground Zero with Students
On Friday, September 9th, Officer Doug Dillon, the district’s chief of security, spent the morning sharing memories of being at Ground Zero with Middle School students as a member of the Critical Response team, in order to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the tragic 9/11 attacks. Officer Dillon’s use of his own memory, combined with primary sources and more, helped to paint a vivid picture for students as they filled the Middle School’s Cappadonna Room where his display was set. Class after class took turns observing more than four tables of displayed items, after listening to Officer Dillon provide a brief history of the attacks that day. He states that “we should always remember,” the approximately 2,900 lives lost that day, and he takes great care in sharing prolific memories of his time helping to counsel first responders who were responsible for the cleanup of the attacks. The traumatized first responders were met with love, care, and compassion from individuals like Officer Dillon, who volunteered in this capacity, immediately following the 9/11 attacks. Thank you to Officer Dillon for taking the time and attention to commemorate the lives lost on 9/11, and for sharing your firsthand command of the subject with our students and staff.