Today, students and staff at Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary School gathered with community members around the campus flagpole to honor all patriots, first responders, and the school’s namesake during the annual Patriot Day ceremony.
The student-led event featured the Pledge of Allegiance to the American and Texas flags, remarks from City of Tyler Mayor Stuart Hene, and a performance of the National Anthem by the Jack Elementary Choir. The ceremony concluded with a moving tribute of “Taps” performed by a student from the Tyler Legacy High School Red Raider Band.
“Today’s remembrance at Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary is an opportunity to honor the lives lost on September 11 and those who answered the call to serve,” said Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford. “We are grateful for the freedom to gather for an event like this and for a community that continues to make it a priority. Dr. Jack’s service to our country gives our students a personal connection to this history and reminds them that they, too, have a responsibility to serve others.”
Dr. Bryan C. Jack was aboard the plane that crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. He had served more than 20 years in Washington, D.C., helping shape the U.S. military’s budget. A Tyler ISD graduate and the son of two Tyler ISD educators, Jack’s roots in the community run deep.
When a new elementary campus opened in 2007, it was named in his honor. With its Patriot mascot and red, white, and blue school colors, Jack Elementary has carried that tribute forward through its annual Patriot Day ceremony, honoring Jack’s legacy and the lives lost on September 11.
“We want our students to know the person behind our school’s name,” said Jack Elementary Principal Katie Jiral. “This annual tradition brings our families and neighbors together to honor Dr. Bryan C. Jack and helps our students understand the pride and responsibility that come with being a Jack Patriot.”
For more information, contact Marlo Bitter at Marlo.Bitter@TylerISD.org.