The City of Klamath Falls’ proclamation was presented at Klamath Union High School today as part of the school’s Sept. 11 remembrance assembly, held on the 25th anniversary of the attacks at Veterans Memorial Park, commemorating the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, and proclaiming Sept. 11, 2026, as Patriot Day and a National Day of Remembrance.
Note: The video includes the presentation of the 9/11 remembrance proclamation by Sarah Callen and Mayor Carol Westfall, along with Klamath Union ASB’s assembly featuring information about the upcoming Homecoming Week, performances by the Klamath Union marching band, and a closing performance by the Wocus Boyz.
The assembly gave students an opportunity to pause and reflect on the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives, as well as the first responders, military members and civilians who stepped forward in the aftermath.
Klamath Union's choir, under the direction of instructor Perry Dean, also took part in the remembrance by performing the national anthem during this year’s Sept. 11 remembrance.
That performance was part of the reason Sarah Callen, State Junior Vice Commandant for the Marine Corps League, and Klamath Falls Mayor Carol Westfall, were at Klamath Union to present the city's proclamation to Dean on behalf of the choir.
Callen introduced the presentation by recognizing the role the students and choir played in helping honor those remembered on Sept. 11. In her remarks, she thanked the school for allowing the community to gather with students and specifically called attention to the choir's contribution to the ceremony.
In the proclamation, the city reflected on the thousands of lives lost when four hijacked aircraft were used in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash site in Pennsylvania. It also recognized the first responders, military personnel and ordinary civilians who stepped forward to help others.
“We gather to remember and honor the thousands of innocent victims murdered by terrorists on September 11th, 2001,” the proclamation states, while also recognizing the courage demonstrated by firefighters, police officers, medical technicians, military personnel and civilians.
The city also used the proclamation to recognize local first responders and members of the Armed Forces for their continued service to the Klamath Basin.
A second proclamation from the Klamath County Board of Commissioners similarly commemorates the 25th anniversary, while recognizing the aftermath of 9/11 and the subsequent Global War on Terror.
During the assembly, Callen spoke to students about remembering not only the tragedy of Sept. 11, but also the way people came together in its aftermath.
She encouraged students to remember Sept. 12, 2001 as a time when Americans demonstrated unity, compassion and support for one another.
“One more thing that I want you to never forget, and that's September 12,” Callen told students. “The day when the entire country came together, and showed love for their country, for their flag, and for each other.”
Callen also emphasized heroism is not limited to firefighters, police officers, military personnel or other trained first responders.
She pointed to the ordinary civilians who stepped forward on Sept. 11 and in the days that followed as examples of how anyone can make a difference.
“Every single one of you can step up and be a hero,” Callen said.
Callen ended her remarks by challenging the students to put that idea into practice in their own lives.
“When you leave here today, I want to challenge every single one of you to do something heroic today,” she said. “To do something to help make someone's world a little bit better.”
She reminded students that changing the entire world may not happen through one action, but that helping one person can have a lasting impact on that individual.
“You can't change the entire world overnight, but you can change one person's entire world every day,” Callen said.