St. Jude School in Chattanooga was chosen as only the second school in Tennessee and the first elementary school to host the Freedom Flag on Patriot’s Day, Sept. 11.
The Freedom Flag Foundation chose St. Jude for the honor after an application made by third-grade teacher Katlyn Darling. The foundation exists to establish the Freedom Flag as a national symbol of remembrance for Sept. 11, 2001, and to support educational efforts to teach future generations about the tragic events and many lives lost on that date.
In addition to oral and visual presentations, the day offered a chance to interact with an artifact from Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. The presentation of colors—the flags of the United States, the state of Tennessee, and the Freedom Flag—added a patriotic touch. Educators have praised the 10 symbolic elements of the Freedom Flag as an effective teaching tool, helping the current generation of students understand the complex sequence of events of 9/11, a day they were not yet born to witness.
State Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson and Deputy County Mayor Cory Gearrin took part in the day’s activities. Also participating were representatives of the Chattanooga Police Department, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ROTC, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
