WEST POINT, Ala. – Friday morning, Sept. 11, 2026, West Point High School students gathered before class in the school’s courtyard to honor the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
The high school band played the national anthem before students handed out 2,997 American flags to be placed along the grass toward the front of the property. Students took a moment of silence for the lives lost and heard words of wisdom from West Point High School Principal Wes Black and History Teacher Jimmy Harbison, who organized the ceremony for the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
Harbison urged the students to look at the flags covering the entryway grass and know that each one represents a life lost.
“This is how precious freedom is,” Harbison said. He added, “I’m proud to be a West Point Warrior.”
Black told the audience, “This provides a vision for you that us adults saw. We didn’t think it was real. This still impacts us today. We still hear survivor stories.” He went on, “That’s what makes the country so amazing. Everyone is willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good.”
In an interview with The Tribune Harbison said he wanted to let the kids have hands-on experience in remembering this day, not just through stories of the events 25 years ago.
He gave credit to his wife, who is also the school’s librarian, Kim Harbison. “She wants this to be remembered as much as I do and had just as much planning go toward it as I did.”
On Sept. 11, 2001, Harbison said, he was working at a furniture repair shop when the tragedy occurred. His phone rang and his sister advised him to turn on the television because the World Trade Center had been hit.
He noted that though his memory can sometimes fail him, he cannot forget the events that happened that day.
He also explained that his biggest regret is not serving the country, though this particular moment in history inspired him to become a history teacher. Through his teaching, he is able to help children understand the importance of history and heroes.
