DEERING — No Dawson-Bryant Elementary students were alive on Sept., 11, 2001, when two hijacked airplanes flew into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon and another crashed in rural Pennsylvania. A Patriot Day ceremony on Thursday went a long way toward educating students about the importance of 9/11.

“The reason we have Patriot Day is in memory of and to honor those who lost their lives in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001,” Angie LaFon, principal, said. “We are paying respect to the victims and showing our nation’s solidarity and support of the men and women in our armed forces.”

LaFon asked for a moment of silence to honor the nearly 3,000 people who died that day. Cub Scouts led the students in the Pledge of Allegiance before a collective singing of the national anthem.

Fifth-graders Jordan Mullens and Andrew Fields read a poem titled “September Eleventh” and a group of students led the singing of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”

“Today we are showing our patriotism and patriotism has pulled us through some very tough times in our country,” LaFon said. “I always tell you to be a good Hornet, by that I mean to be a good citizen of our school. But being a good American citizen means you take the things you learn here at school and apply that in the community. One way you can do that is like today, showing support wearing your red, white and blue; showing your patriotism and pride for your country.”