St. Michael-Albertville Teens React to Historic Moment

Reviewing what was, perhaps, one of the most historical days for their country during the span of their young lives, St. Michael-Albertville freshmen in Jared Essler's social studies class reflected on the capture and killing of Osama Bin Laden during a discussion held Tuesday afternoon. 

"I was like, 'Yeah!' I actually hollered a little bit," Mattt Bird said. A freshmen, like his classmates, he was a kindergarten student when bin Laden's plan to attack New York City and Washington D.C. unfolded on Sept. 11, 2001. 

Though they were young, the students remembered that day well. 

"I remember just being scared," Priscilla Pomeroy said. Bird added that his mother came and took him home from class. 

Essler shared some other historical moments, including his mother's recolllection of the assasination of President John F. Kennedy. 

"This is right up there," he said. 

After discussion, he shared President Barack Obama's speech from Sunday night with the class. Many had already seen it. 

"I cried," said Ashleigh Bashan. "I was just so proud." 

None of the students said they were scared, or worried that Al Qaida might retaliate for their leader's death. 

"I think, mostly, I was proud. Overjoyed, even. I was proud to be American," said Kyle Mell, who was watching baseball on ESPN when the announcers delivered the news. 

"The crowd at the game started chanting 'U.S.A.!' It was really cool," he said. 

Discussion then moved to the United States' efforts in the ongoing war on terror. Here, the youth of the students was revealed, as they were filled in on the reasons behind the war itself. Some even forgetting the name of dictator Saddam Hussein, who died six years ago, when they were just 9-year-olds. 

"It's pretty amazing when you think about it," Essler said. "This is something we've come to know. For them, this has been going on their entire lives."