On Friday, September 8, 2023, Fallston High School held an assembly honoring September 11, 2001, with guest speaker Mr. Paul Richard. After SGA President Lindsey Dettloff and Senior Class Council Vice-President Abby Richard introduced him to the stage, he began recounting the events of that September day. “I’m no hero,” he said. “I’m an ordinary American and patriot like you.”
On the morning of 9/11, he was working in the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. When Flight 11 crashed into the first World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m., he was getting an allergy shot at the Pentagon’s underground health clinic. He explained the confusion of the crash, and how it was believed to have just been a terrible tragedy. However, it wasn’t until after Flight 175 crashed into the second tower at 9:03 a.m. that they began to realize something “much more sinister was at play.”
At 9:37 a.m., the third hijacked plane, Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon. Mr. Richard relived the hours following the attack right in front of us, describing in great detail the five and a half hours until his family was able to be informed he was alive.
“I know it was hard for my parents and other aunts and uncles to have no news of him until way later in the day,” said his niece and current Fallston senior, Abby Richard. “I can’t even begin to make sense of the pain he must still carry from what he witnessed 22 years ago.”
After he finished speaking, Lindsey Dettloff thanked him and presented an American Flag the school will be flying on 9/11. This flag was sent from Arlington County Fire Department Station 5, which helped put out the fires at the pentagon on 9/11. Mr. Collins then presented Mr. Richard with a Fallston challenge coin, a metal coin that shows your bravery and courage within Fallston High School. “Mr. Richard’s vulnerability was an example for us all in allowing others to see us as we are,” said Mr. Collins.
