COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)- September 11, 2001 made an indelible mark on the students of Blanchard Elementary in Columbus. The school’s unique approach to dealing with the national tragedy is still on display today at Columbus State University.
That’s where Rhonda Kees and Mona Griffin went earlier this week to reminisce. Rhonda taught second grade at Blanchard and Mona was her student teacher back in the fall of 2001. They met at the CSU Lumpkin Center to reflect on the grand old flag that’s draped on the wall. It’s not your typical American flag. This one was delicately and creatively crafted by over 650 students who were attending Blanchard on 9/11. The flag was inspired by the horrific events of that day.
Rhonda remembers that fateful morning. “I was in the hall and I walked down toward the office. There was a commotion. They had a small television that was muted. It was on the twin towers. And I stood looking through that window and I thought they were showing a movie. People were so upset and other people were just silent. I turned and went in and they said it’s horrible, it’s horrible!”
Rhonda knew she had to tell Mona. Her husband and daughter were both in Washington, D.C. where a hijacked plane would hit the Pentagon. Mona’s husband, Dennis, was okay. But she was worried about her daughter Reagan who worked for the Department of Justice in that area…