On this ten year anniversary of September 11, Boaz Middle School students have been participating in a study of the events that took place on that unforgettable day. In examining those events, our students have learned about the tragedies that occurred on that day in addition to the tremendous acts of courage and heroism that could only be carried out by a people with a tradition of freedom and a desire to defend that freedom at all costs. As a part of their curriculum, our students also spend a great deal of time studying our Constitution and its Amendments. When discussing how the passengers aboard United Flight 93 took charge and crashed their hijacked plane into a field in Pennsylvania rather than allow the enemy to use it to destroy its intended target, it didn’t take long for our young students to figure out that the passengers who took charge on that flight were exercising their Constitutional right to form a temporary militia in order to defend their nation against terrorists. These everyday U.S. citizens gave their lives in battle to “suppress insurrections and repel invasions.” They fought with valor to defend our United States of America, our government, and our freedom. It is for these reasons that the Boaz Middle School students wish to recommend the U.S militia that was formed by the passengers aboard United Flight 93 for the United States military’s highest honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. We believe that the Medal’s founder, Senator James W. Grimes, and our own Congress members today would agree that the U.S. soldiers, although temporary, did indeed “distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities, during the present insurrection.” On Friday September 16, 2011, Boaz Middle School students will be celebrating United States Constitution Day with the signing of a petition to recommend the passengers from United flight 93 for the Congressional Medal of Honor. We invite you to join us in honoring these “soldiers” for their display of “valor in action against an enemy force” and humbly ask you to support and honor these brave souls with your signature. Sincerely, Rissa Parrish Social Studies Teacher Boaz Middle School