By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, turn 22 years old on Monday. That means the generation of students currently enrolled in the education system was not alive for one of the greatest tragedies to take place on American soil. On Monday, Barton Community College's Prairie Winds band will pay tribute to 9/11 victims with an instrumental noon performance at the flagpole on the north side of the college. Director of Instrumental Activities Jamie Minneman called it a perfect mix of students who did not live through 9/11 and adults who did.
"I think that's part of the benefit of that group, that the students of Barton get to experience life and music through and with some older adults that were there," she said. "They get to sit by them and hear their comments about how they felt. That's kind of true with all our music, but especially true in this instance."
Minneman is also part of the Saluting America's Band Directors Organization that will be performing at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City in November. That band features members from all 50 states and has already performed at the Parade of Roses in California. Some 400 members of the group will march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and perform at the memorial.
"The day before Thanksgiving our group is going to perform at the 9/11 Memorial in New York," said Minneman. "The music the kids are playing on Monday is what we'll be performing there as well."
The public is invited to attend Monday's ceremony at Barton Community College. Minneman encourages area first responders to attend so that they may be recognized.