Tyler School named for 9/11 victim reflects on 15th anniversary

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - Students at one Tyler school are marking the 15th anniversary of September 11, 2001, by honoring the man their school is named after who died in the attacks.

Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary is named for the Tyler native and Robert E. Lee High School graduate. Jack was killed on 9/11 when American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. Jack had worked for the Department of Defense for more than 20 years, earning distinctions in his field. Five years after his death, Tyler ISD honored Jack by naming the school after him.

"I think when world events happen we can kind of depersonalize ourselves from those events because it doesn't hit quite close to home, but his one does hit close to home because Dr. Jack was a native of Tyler," Jack Elementary Media Technology Specialist Thurndotte Ray said.

Every year in remembrance of 9/11, students at the school observe a moment of silence and gather around the flags. Events start Friday at 9 o'clock and will also include a balloon release in honor of the 15th anniversary.

Ray added that the school not only bears Jack's name but a symbol of America as well.

"It's named after him and we thought it appropriate that our mascot would also be a patriot not only recognizing his contribution but patriots the symbol of our country," Ray said.

She added that Friday's events will also help students understand the past while preparing for the future.

"Focus on leadership and learning those qualities of what it means to be an American," Ray said.

Watch Patriot Day events from Jack Elementary on East Texas News Midday at 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Copyright 2016 KLTV. All rights reserved.