August 19, 2024 By Tim Boivin
As commemorations around 9/11 near, The Hingham Anchor takes a look back at remarks shared by Pat Bavis with Susan Petrie’s U.S. Advanced Placement History classes at Hingham High School earlier this year.
Pat Bavis, whose brother Mark perished in the 9/11 attacks, shared with Hingham High students his perspective on the tragic events of that day and how his and other victims’ families have coped since then.
Pat was appearing at the school as part of the Mass 9/11 Fund program that provides free peer- reviewed teaching resources to secondary social science educators in Massachusetts and around the country.
This program is designed to help today’s high school students, none of whom were alive on 9/11, to gain a greater appreciation of the single deadliest terrorist attack in history; as well as the impact of the attacks – both in the immediate aftermath and to this day – on families of the victims and communities across the Commonwealth.
Pat’s brother Mark was a scout for the Los Angeles Kings hockey team when he boarded his flight at Logan, bound for Los Angeles, that morning. His remains, as well as those of more than 1,000 other victims, have still not been identified and returned to his family.
“The pain never goes away, something reminds you every day,” Pat said in response to a question from a student. “For 10 years, I struggled after the attacks. For the past 12 years, these school presentations helped me to tell the stories of all these loved ones who lost their lives. Mentally, it helps me to give back, to make a difference, and to tell students how they too can make a difference.”
Pat walked students through his family’s personal experiences since the attacks and used the Mass 9/11 Fund teaching resources, including dramatic videos and probing discussion questions, throughout his presentation to the classes.
Pat pointed out that what is often lost in the focus on the ultimate tragic ends of the attacks – in New York City, Shanksville, PA, and Washington, DC – is that two of the four flights that were used in the 9/11 attacks originated at Boston’s Logan International Airport.
The Mass 9/11 Fund has confirmed 206 victims of the terrorist attacks on 9/11 had connections to Massachusetts – ranking second only to the State of New York in the number of victims who died. A total of 2,977 victims lost their lives that day along with 19 hijackers who committed murder-suicide.
Pat shared with the students how travel changed following the attacks with the advent of the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration. He also discussed how the attacks led to U.S. military involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere as part of the Global War on Terror. Pat urged students to show their appreciation whenever they can personally to those who serve in the Armed Services and as first responders. Pat also encouraged students to not take anything for granted, to combat hate, and to understand what should take priority in their own lives.
“These guys, these families, they were just going on vacation, going to work, and their lives were taken from them,” Pat said. “Life can be taken from you like this. Surround yourself with good people. Tell your parents you love them. Make a change, for the future, today, in your communities. Be leaders. You have so much power to make changes for good.”
In response to a question from a student about his connections with the families of other 9/11 victims, Pat said “We get together with the other families at the Massachusetts Statehouse for the remembrance ceremonies every September 11th that is available for live-streaming to school classrooms across Massachusetts. There is also a memorial to the victims in the Public Garden in Boston along with a sapling that came from Ground Zero that was transplanted there. I encourage you all to visit those memorials when you are in the city.”
Pat also urged students to participate in service opportunities every September 11th, which was designated a National Day of Service through the efforts of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, to honor those whose lives were lost in the terrorist attacks.
In that spirit of servant leadership, Pat said the Bavis family started the Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation 22 years ago to provide scholarships for high school students. The foundation is funded by the family, corporate sponsors and an annual golf tournament that this year will be held at the New Seabury Country Club in Mashpee July 14-15.
“We wanted to create something good and lasting to come out of this tragedy,” Pat said to the students. “Because of the 185 college scholarships we have awarded over the past 22 years, Mark’s impact is bigger across the entire state of Massachusetts today than it ever was when he was alive.”
Rick Swanson, the former principal at Hingham High School and also a former history teacher, lauded Pat Bavis and the Mass 9/11 Fund for providing the opportunity for students to be exposed to these important living history lessons.
“Yes, Pat discussed that there is evil in the world and our nation has endured terrible tragedies,” Swanson said. “But he also leaves students with a sense of hope that we can overcome those tragedies and deal with enormous loss, and how terrible events can bring us together. The message that the students heard today really helped underscore the truth of how the worst events can have powerful outcomes that are also positive. Pat’s ability to retain hope, to be resilient, to persevere, and to still look for the good out of this tragedy is an inspiring message.”
For more information on th 9/11 commemoration ceremonies, including the Reading of the Names and the Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery, visit The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund’s website.