Sun Valley Magnet School students, teacher create 9/11 memorial to honor victims

Friday, September 9, 2016
Sun Valley school students, teacher create 9/11 memorial
As the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11 approaches, students and a teacher at Sun Valley Magnet School put together a memorial exhibit as they learn about the terror attacks.

SUN VALLEY, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- As the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11 approaches, students and a teacher at Sun Valley Magnet School put together a memorial exhibit as they learn about the terror attacks.

"By teaching this to them, I mean these kids have no memories of Sept. 11. We're now at the point in K-12 education where none of our students remember Sept. 11," Stephen Franklin said.

Most of the students were infants during the 9/11 terror attacks, while others weren't even born yet. Franklin, the teacher and creator of the exhibit, has been planning it out for the last 14 years.

He said his students are making sure the victims are not forgotten, including those from the San Bernardino terror attack and at Pulse nightclub.

The exhibit includes a flag with handwritten names of the 9/11 victims, a model of the Pentagon and Twin Towers, along with multimedia displays, music and lighting.

"We want to try to inspire the kids to want to do things in this world that will make it a better place," Franklin said.

The memorial exhibit is free and open to the public until Friday.