Special to Iredell Free News

In years past, Mitchell Community College has hosted a ceremony on its Statesville Campus in remembrance of 9/11. This year, in lieu of a ceremony, Mitchell opted to let students express their feelings about this unfortunate event in our nation’s past. This student tribute is unique in that the events of September 11, 2001, did not occur during these students’ lifetime. Yet music students Laila Willie, Angel Hunley, Brittany Yang, Brooke Smith and Wynston Lyles sang “This Land is Your Land” a cappella, pausing for a moment of silence halfway through the song, to honor the memory of 9/11 victims and to commemorate the bravery and sacrifices of veteran, first responder, civilian and military heroes during that day.