On Sep. 11, 2025, the Lebanon Trail Navy Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (NJROTC) program hosted its first annual 9/11 ceremony to commemorate those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. Over 100 cadets ran the ceremony, where they explained the true importance of the day, accompanied by the Lebanon Trail choir’s singing of the National Anthem. The event had a large turnout, with many LT students and even members of the city council attending.
An event of this scale required a large amount of preparation from the NJROTC. Junior Vikram Palani provided insight into the work that went into making this a reality.
“Preparing for the 9/11 ceremony involved careful planning and teamwork,” Palani said. “We rehearsed our positions, coordinated the sequence of events, and made sure every cadet knew their role. Attention to detail was important to ensure the ceremony ran smoothly and respectfully,” he continued. “The preparation also included reflecting on the meaning of the day and how we could honor the victims and heroes appropriately.”
The commitment of the NJROTC members was a huge contributor to the success of the event. Junior Gianna Lusby explained what made her want to join this organization in the first place.
“First and foremost I wanted to have discipline; I had always been told that I was disciplined and I wanted to grow in that,” Lusby said. “While I did gain the discipline that I wanted, I ultimately stayed because of the people. You bond with people when you are put into tough and uncomfortable situations, but we also have fun.”
With all of the preparation that went into this event, the importance of it must have been significant. Lusby explained what made the event so important to the community.
“As an NJROTC, we are relatively new and we wanted to show the community that we value these people’s sacrifices and mourn others’ deaths,” Lusby said. “Many people tend to forget what 9/11 is about, but for those who lived through it, it was truly horrendous. To not acknowledge that day for the people that passed would be ignoring it, and we wanted to best show that our community is truly one that cares about the people, effects, and courage involved in that day.”
The event lasted an hour, running seamlessly from start to finish. Palani reflected on the ceremony’s outcome.
“I am proud of how it went; everyone stayed focused, disciplined, and engaged throughout the ceremony,” Palani said. “The program was carried out with respect and professionalism, and it created a meaningful experience for both cadets and attendees. It reminded us of the importance of unity, service, and remembering the sacrifices made on 9/11.”
The ceremony wasn’t just important to the community; it was also important to the members of the NJROTC who participated. Lusby explained what it meant to her to take part in the event.
“It meant a lot for me to have a place in this specific event, and not just me, but everyone,” Lusby said. “It meant a great amount that we had the honor of showing not just the school, but the entire Plano and Frisco community, what this day was. It was truly a privilege to be at this event as well as sing with the choir there because you could tell just how much respect was held in the area. Needless to say, we all held a great responsibility to be there and we were more than glad to do so.”
Likewise, the event held great importance to Senior Naval Science Instructor and Lieutenant Colonel Hamartya Tharpe, the director of the NJROTC responsible for bringing the event to life. Tharpe offered his takeaways from the event.
“This ceremony was more than just a remembrance—it was a lesson in character, unity, and service,” Tharpe said. “Our cadets demonstrated what it means to honor the past while leading the way for the future. I couldn’t be more proud of how they represented Lebanon Trail High School and our community.”
