By ROBERT PIERCE • Leader & Times Sept. 11, 2001, planes flew into the iconic Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, marking what many call one of the darkest days in America’s history. In 2003, Liberal’s Cottonwood Elementary School began marking the date to salute the nation’s military and first responders with the school’s annual Patriot Day ceremony. At 9:30 a.m. this Friday, the school will again host the event, and with that day being the 25th anniversary of 9/11, music teacher Aspen Jaramillo-Martinez said this year’s Patriot Day will be bigger than ever. “The program will include the presentation of colors, the national anthem, student performances, a guest presentation from the Liberal High School band, Seymour Rogers Middle School band, Eisenhower Middle School band along with all Liberal first responders and veterans,” she said. Jaramillo-Martinez has been planning Patriot Day for several years now, following in the footsteps of the event’s founder, former Cottonwood music teacher Becky Robison and others, and she said with each year, planning becomes more meaningful. “We continue to build on previous ceremonies while looking for new ways to honor those we’ve lost and recognize the heroes who serve our country,” Jaramillo-Martinez said. “We want every program to be respectful, educational and memorable for our students and community.” Jaramillo-Martinez was but 2 years old when the events of 9/11 took place, and she said planning Patriot Day has encouraged her to learn more about that day. “The more I research, the greater my appreciation becomes for the courage, sacrifice and resilience shown that day and in the years that followed,” she said. Jaramillo-Martinez said it is an honor to recognize the nation’s heroes, and being able to create a meaningful tribute such as Patriot Day is a responsibility she takes quite seriously. “My hope is everyone who attends leaves with a deeper appreciation for those who sacrificed so much,” she said. With Jaramillo-Martinez’s current students being born long after 9/11, she said Patriot Day is likely their first opportunity to learn about the tragedy in a meaningful way. “It helps them understand the importance of service, patriotism and remembering history,” she said. “They do take great pride in being part of the ceremony.” Likewise, Jaramillo-Martinez said teaching students who were not alive at the time of 9/11 means helping them understand history still matters. “I focus on sharing the facts while emphasizing courage, compassion, service and the importance of remembering,” she said. For Jaramillo-Martinez, Patriot Day is a time to remember lives lost, to honor heroes who responded and reflect on the strength and unity the country demonstrated, and it is also an opportunity to teach the next generation why they must never forget. The 2024 Patriot Day ceremony saw Liberal’s Prairie View Elementary joining Cottonwood’s students, which Jaramillo-Martinez said was wonderful. “They helped to make the ceremony more meaningful,” she said. Prairie View will not be joining this year’s event, but Jaramillo-Martinez said with bands from LHS, Seymour Rogers and Eisenhower coming, excitement will continue for this landmark edition of Patriot Day. With the event seemingly growing each year, Jaramillo-Martinez too would like to see more schools and community organizations become involved in the future. With this being the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Jaramillo-Martinez said she was even more intentional with the planning of this year’s Patriot Day. “I wanted this year’s ceremony to be especially meaningful by adding thoughtful moments of reflection and recognizing the significance of this milestone while maintaining a respectful tone throughout the program,” she said. For Jaramillo-Martinez, her excitement for Patriot Day comes from seeing the USD 480 school district and the Liberal community come together for one purpose along with elementary students performing alongside the bands at the event. “It’s a powerful reminder that remembering our nation’s history is something every generation can take part in,” she said. “We are very proud to help create this experience, and the students are excited to contribute in a meaningful way.” Cottonwood Principal Traci Mettlen gave much of the credit for the current success of Patriot Day to Jaramillo-Martinez, and that success started with Robison and former Principal Donna Sill. “I’ve had music teachers who have led the program, but what I love about Aspen is she’s from this community, and it’s more meaningful to bring the community together because you’re from here,” Mettlen said. “It makes it even better.”