On Wednesday, Sept. 11,

2002, schools, churches, cities and Shelby County joined the nation in marking the one year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America.

At Thompson Intermediate School, 800 students and close to 100 faculty and staff participated in the creation of a large American flag composed of ringlets containing their names and messages for 9/11.

Principal Cassandra Beck said parents also helped assemble the flag that will hang in the school lobby all year long.

Among messages which helped make up the flag were those from students, Chaleista McCreedy, &uot;I love America;&uot; Jake…, &uot;In God we trust;&uot; Kelly Able, &uot;God bless all of America;&uot; Brooke Megois, &uot;I will remember;&uot; and Whitney Jones, &uot;I’m proud to be an American. God bless the USA.&uot;

Lunchroom worker Barbara Wood wrote, &uot;God shed his grace on thee.&uot;

Students in Rebecca Cushman’s fifth grade class also put up a list of ways Sept. 11 changed their lives.

The list includes the following:

&uot;1) We feel more protective about America;

2) We are more scared of the future;

3) We are more alert;

4)More thankful for our families and the life we have;

5) We are sad and mad;

6) Frightened of airplanes and leaving the country.&uot;

At Columbiana Middle School, a patriotic assembly was held featuring a chorus, and a plaque was displayed by Principal David Dixon that will be hung in all 50 classrooms, once renovation on the school is complete.

The plaque features the American flag and the words, &uot;In God we trust, the national motto of the United States of America adopted by Congress, July 30, 1956.&uot;

Physical Education Teacher David Phillips quoted from an essay, &uot;What is an American?&uot; which was written by Peter Ferrara, an associate professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law. It was published in &uot;National Review&uot; magazine.

Phillips served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He spent two years of his tour on the Mediterranean and two years on the east coast of the United States.

One of the most telling quotes from the reading was: &uot;An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, Buddhist or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.&uot;