Correspondent photo / Sean Barron Each year, a tree is dedicated at Stadium Drive Elementary School in Boardman to remember and honor those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as well as first responders who saved thousands of others. Dedicating a tree during a special program Thursday at the school were, from left, third-graders Ryan Lytle, Elizabeth Moore, Alex Foran and Enzo Vlaiku.

BOARDMAN — The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks more than two decades ago may have been years before Lily DePinto’s time, but that doesn’t mean she’s devoid of being able to craft her own narrative of that tragic day.

“I know the twin towers got broken down because of two bad planes,” Lily, a Stadium Drive Elementary School third grader, said. “The twin buildings crashed on people who were working. It’s sad because lots of people got killed, but the first responders helped make it better.”

Lily also was among a few hundred fellow third graders who met some local first responders during a special outdoor program Thursday morning at the school to remember and honor the estimated 2,977 lives lost that day. Also honored were the police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and other first responders who saved countless lives that day.

Thursday also marked the 24th anniversary of the tragic morning when hijacked planes struck the 110-story World Trade Center towers, flew into the Pentagon and crashed in a remote field near Shanksville, Pa.

Lily added that her appreciation for the courage the passengers and crew aboard United Flight 93 displayed lies in the fact that their actions prevented further casualties that likely would have occurred had the plane struck the White House or another government building and not crashed in the Somerset County, Pa., field.

Many believe the doomed flight was headed to Washington, D.C., before a group of passengers revolted against the four terrorists and thwarted their plan.

Even though she has no direct memories of the tragedy, Lily was later told that upon hearing early accounts of how the events of 9/11 unfolded, her mother “cried a bit,” she said.

“The brave souls on Flight 93 prevented further loss of life,” Boardman fire Chief Mark Pitzer told the few hundred students and teachers assembled in the parking lot next to the school.

Pitzer added that even though their service often is overlooked or forgotten, dispatchers also play a pivotal role in preventing many tragic incidents from occurring.

A day such as 9/11 — and the anniversaries that have followed — also serves as a stark reminder of why police officers, firefighters and other first responders are needed and are dedicated to serving their communities, he noted.

In his remarks, Principal Michael Zoccali told the young students and their teachers that Spiderman was his favorite superhero because he was fast, strong, courageous and always willing to help someone in need. Those are the same admirable traits police, firefighters and other first responders possess, he said.

“Today, we have real-life superheroes,” Zoccali added.

The principal asked his young audience to silently think about and reflect on those they consider heroic and how important their roles are to upholding everyone’s safety and well-being. In addition, it’s vital to remember the job many of them did on 9/11 — and what they do daily, Zoccali continued.

After the program, third graders Elizabeth Moore, Alex Foran, Enzo Vlaiku and Ryan Lytle dedicated an ivory silk lilac tree on school property to honor and remember those who were killed in the terrorist attacks, along with others who saved thousands of lives.

“We dedicate a tree every year. I’ve been doing this for at least 15 years,” Jerry Blasco, who owns Boardman-based Blasco Commercial Services Inc., said.

As tragic and life-altering as the events of Sept. 11, 2001, were, it’s important that efforts continue to pass along what happened that fateful day to future generations so that the lives lost and the actions of those who saved others are not forgotten, Blasco added.