The program seeks to further educate Cedar Grove students about the tragic events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. Today’s high school students are too young to remember the events of 9/11, so it is important to educate students about the sacrifice others have made for their freedom.
Cedar Grove Waves is a memorial tribute featured on the front lawn of the high school, honoring the 2,977 people who perished on 9/11 at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. The tribute was inspired by Pepperdine University’s 9/11 flag installation.
The installation features flags representing the home countries of the victims, and combines the energy, resources and funding of the high school and Cedar Grove community. Funding is raised via private donations from community businesses, individuals and the Cedar Grove Education Association. Students work with high school teachers, administrators and community volunteers to design, assemble and install the flags for the memorial each year, and each student has the opportunity to install six flags. Each flag bears the name of a victim. The event culminates in a solemn tribute on the morning of Sept. 11, which features speeches, the high school choir, a bagpiper and trumpeted. Hundreds of community members attend.
The Cedar Grove Waves Memorial Tribute program has aimed to improve the process, making it more efficient, by installing permanent flag-mounting brackets to be reused year after year. The program has been featured in the media, and was recognized by the National 9/11 Memorial Foundation as an annual non-permanent installation.
Information
Contact: Richard Mangili, principal
Nominated for the 2017 School Leader award.
