WEST ORANGE, NJ – St. Cloud Elementary School was covered in American flags to remember 9/11, thanks to the efforts of West Orange High School sophomores Lucas and Cooper Tulloch.
Both Lucas and Cooper are involved in sports at WOHS: Lucas in cross-country, indoor, and outdoor track and field, and Cooper in soccer and lacrosse. They both also served as Camp Invention Summer interns.
The boys earned a Youth Service America grant to place 2,977 flags in front of St. Cloud as part of the organization’s effort to create opportunities for service on the anniversary of 9/11. Each flag represents a victim that perished on that day.
“As students and athletes at West Orange High School, we wanted to find a unique way outside our typical areas to give back to the community that has given so much to us,” said Lucas and Cooper.
They explained why the project was important to them.
“Growing up in Northern NJ in the shadow of New York City, there is a connection my family has always had with this area. The proximity to the World Trade Center and these attacks meant we knew SOMEONE who was affected that day. That is what is always so staggering to us living in this area; everyone has a 9/11 story — a personal impact — and so it is a constant reminder of why we should never forget and ensure we honor that day.”
As alumni of St. Cloud Elementary School, the boys wanted to “give back to the school community where we started our journey as students, because it gave us such a strong foundation for our educational journey.”
Last year, Stacy Tulloch, the boys’ mother, received a YSA grant for the school she works at in Lyndhurst.
“Last year, my mom earned this grant for her school district, and we saw what a positive impact it had in Lyndhurst, so we wanted to bring it to the West Orange Community.”
When asked what they wanted to accomplish with the project, Lucas and Cooper stated, “We want to educate the elementary students at St. Cloud in a way that shows them you can take a tragic moment in our country and honor all the people who lost their lives by coming together as a community.”
With the help of principal Eric Price, fifth grade students joined with Lucas and Cooper on Sept. 10 to place the flags in front of St. Cloud school, where they will remain through Sept. 19. In addition to the flags, the boys purchased over two dozen community service books for St. Cloud students.
St. Cloud students with Cooper (in gray) and Lucas (in black) Tulloch
Superintendent Hayden Moore, Cooper Tulloch, Lucas Tulloch, and St. Cloud Principal Eric Price
Students place flags
