HILLSDALE—Hundreds of students from grades 5–8 at George G. White Middle School encountered history in a profound way as the 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit stopped at Maher Field for the day, Oct. 18.
Sponsored by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the exhibit offered students a look at the heroism and tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, guided by retired New York City firefighters who had witnessed the events of that day.
A traveling museum contained within an 83-foot tractor-trailer, the facility transforms into a 1,100-square-foot immersive experience. Inside, students observed somber tributes to those who lost their lives.
Retired firefighters, including Kieran Burke, shared stories honoring the 343 members of the FDNY who died in the line of duty.
Bill Puckett, the exhibit’s field manager, recounted the story of firefighter Stephen Siller, who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, fully geared up, to assist at the World Trade Center after hearing about the attack while off duty. Siller, whose bravery and sacrifice inspired the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, was one of many firefighters who perished when the towers collapsed.
The exhibit includes artifacts such as pieces of twisted steel from the Twin Towers and remnants of a fire truck nameplate, showcasing the raw devastation left by the collapse.
A backdrop of archived radio transmissions and news footage allowed students to experience the confusion and urgency of that morning.
Seventh-grade social studies teacher Jessica Allen guided her students through the exhibit, answering questions as they listened to the retired firefighters describe the unfolding chaos and deadly toll.
Maher Field, where the exhibit was parked, added a local significance to the event. Named in memory of Army 1Lt. Edward Michael Maher Jr., a Hillsdale resident killed in the Vietnam War, the field underscored the sacrifices made by service members across generations.
“The 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit provided an unforgettable history lesson for our students,” said Superintendent Robert Lombardy, crediting the George White Family and Faculty Association for supporting this unique experience. “Learning directly from retired NYC firefighters and viewing the artifacts made the events of 9/11 vivid and personal for everyone.”
Since its launch in 2013, the mobile museum has reached all 50 states, educating over 650,000 people on the sacrifices made by first responders and citizens on Sept. 11. The exhibit highlights the ongoing impact of that day, as 9/11-related illnesses continue to affect responders and survivors.
According to the retired firefighters, the number of firefighters who have died from 9/11-related illnesses now exceeds those who died on that day.
George White principal Donald Bergamini told Pascack Press the GWFFA is a force in the district, not only starting the ball rolling on this opportunity for kids but in fundraising — including facilitating the 8th grade cruise around Manhattan at the end of the year
Bergamini, who attended the exhibit with the school, said “It’s a great experience for anybody to go in and go through and hear the stories, see the artifacts. It’s always a challenge to find things to keep preteens’ and teens’ attention, but they got a lot out of it. I recommend it to any district.”
Bergamini explained the visit was “pre-taught” in social studies, and that the day prompted lively discussion after. He noted his students were born 2010–2012, and that he was born in 1971.
“Every year there would be something on Pearl Harbor,” he recalled of his youth. “That was, like, 30 years before I was born, and it felt like ancient history. But this is still very much with them.”
He noted the Pascack Valley’s profound connection to the events of Sept. 11, 200, and said at least one of his students has a direct connection to a 9/11 hero: “The Siller family, from Hillsdale — from the student’s perspective, a grandfather’s brother.”
Asked to reflect on what the kids or faculty might have been surprised by through the exhibit, Bergamini said “Our kids asked a lot of questions inside. Anytime when kids ask questions it’s surprising. That’s genuine engagement, which is what we’re always looking for.”
