Akron kids find unique way to honor 9/11 victims

AKRON, Ohio - Students at St. Paul of Akron Elementary School don't remember 9/11, but they are taking part in a unique tribute to honor all 3,042 people who lost their lives on that tragic day in 2001.

Eighth graders have written down the names of all of the victims on note cards, which will presented to retired firefighter John Woofter, who put up a 9/11 memorial in 2009 on East Warner Road.

Jud Hartman, a teacher at the school, worked on the project with the kids. The names of firefighters were written in red, police officers in blue, and civilians in black.

"I thought it was a great idea for them to learn a little more about 9/11, and take some responsibility for the project. I explained what that day was like and how everything is different now," Hartman said.

Many of the students were touched as they wrote down the names.

"When I read those names, I immediately realized how many lives were lost on that day," said Adam McClure, 14, of Akron.

"No one ever forgets them. No one ever forgets what happened and it's just, when they hit the twin towers, we did fall, but we stood back up," said Maris Sarlouis, 13, of Akron.

Woofter, 70, will take the note cards to the memorial in Coventry Township on Tuesday. He hopes to hand out all of the cards by the time the day is over.

"Being a retired fireman, it hit home pretty hard. I would like the people to take just one and concentrate on that one person and say their prayers for them," Woofter said.