Benjamin Community Commemorates 25th Anniversary of September 11

The Benjamin Community gathered this week to commemorate the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, reflecting on the lives lost, the courage and sacrifice of first responders, and the enduring impact of that day on our community and our nation.

The Middle School hosted an assembly in The Barker Performing Arts Center, featuring keynote speaker and Benjamin parent Regis Ahern, who shared her harrowing experience aboard the last train to leave the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001.

Head of Middle School Charles Hagy also led the community in a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane struck the World Trade Center. He invited students to pause “to honor the victims, their families, the police, the firefighters and all first responders whose sacrifice on September 11, 2001 inspires us to make this world of ours a better place. We especially remember our two beloved Benjamin alumni—Lindsay Morehouse and Patrick Aranyos—who live on in our hearts here at The Benjamin School.”

As Hagy’s remarks underscored, September 11, 2001, left an indelible mark on the Benjamin community, despite the physical distance between our campuses and the events of that day. The Lindsay Morehouse Tennis Center stands as a lasting memorial to a beloved member of our community who was killed in the attacks, connecting generations of Benjamin students to the larger story of 9/11 and ensuring that Lindsay’s memory, like that of fellow Benjamin alumnus Patrick Aranyos who was also killed in the attack on the World Trade Center, remains part of our school community. 

The Lower School marked the solemn occasion during the Buc Report Friday morning with an acknowledgement of the day’s history and importance. 

The Upper School community also gathered in the early hours of the morning for a special assembly, offering students another opportunity to reflect on the events of September 11, the personal stories that bring history into focus, and the enduring lessons of service, sacrifice, and courage.