Remembering 9/11 Schools Plan Special Events for Today

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Byline: Maggie FitzRoy, Shorelines staff writer

Lynn Dean is not going to work today.

"It's my new Memorial Day," she said while donating a pint of blood Saturday during a blood drive organized by Ponte Vedra Beach public school parent-teacher organizations in commemoration of Sept. 11.

Dean visited the World Trade Center site in October, when it was still smoking.

"It was incredible, I felt a great sense of loss," said the Ponte Vedra Beach resident, who thinks Sept. 11 should be declared a national holiday. Until then, she plans to make it her own personal day, to reflect and remember.

Ponte Vedra Beach residents will be participating in events throughout the community today for reflection, remembrance and prayer. All public school students are being encouraged to wear red, white and blue and they will be participating in a moment of silence at 9:11 a.m. Many churches are planning special services or will be open throughout the day for those who seek solemnity and sanctuary.

At Nease High School, students will be decorating trees in front of the campus with red, white and blue streamers, then all students …