Centennial celebration recalls life of 9-11 victim

A ceremony Wednesday honoring Centennial School alumna Leslie Whittington would have made her feel right at home.

“Leslie would have been so proud today,” said Whittington’s mother, Ruth Koch of Athens, Ga. “She loved being the center of attention.”

Centennial students and teachers — past and present — joined with members of Whittington’s family to dedicate an 85-book library collection at Centennial in memory of Whittington, who died in the 9-11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. The donated books were placed on a special hand-painted cabinet.

Whittington went to Centennial in the early 1960s before moving in the fourth-grade to Colorado.

She was a member of the faculty at Georgetown University on Sept. 11, 2001, when she departed with her husband, Charles Falkenberg, and their children, Zoe, 8, and Dana, 3, for a two-month teaching sabbatical in Australia.

Terrorists took over the airliner and killed all aboard by steering it into the Pentagon.

Wednesday at the dedication, tears rolled down the cheeks of those inside the Lawrence school’s gym as people shared insights into the life of Whittington.

About 250 pink, green, red, yellow and purple balloons later shot up into the sky, driven by a powerful northwest wind, after they were released by students, teachers and guests.

“We couldn’t be any happier,” said Rod Simpson, a resident of North Kansas City, Mo., and Whittington’s uncle. “It’s a beautiful day.”

Hundreds of balloons are set free at Centennial School after a book dedication for former student Leslie Whittington. The ceremony Wednesday honored Whittington, who was killed, along with her husband and children, in the 9-11 attack on the Pentagon.

Books in the collection were selected with assistance from Centennial students. They picked books that reflected family interests and activities.

One book tells all about Australia.

“That’s probably what the girls read when they were getting ready for this trip,” said Gina Grigaitis, principal of Centennial.

Others reflected Whittington’s work in economics and the family’s attraction to ballet and drama. There are books about New York City and Washington, D.C. There’s one on the Pledge of Allegiance. Others are just good reads, such as “Lord of the Rings.”

“Read these books,” Grigaitis told the Centennial students. “Share them. Use them to kindle your dreams.”

After releasing the balloons, everybody received a packet of Zinnia seeds. Zoe was fond of flowers. Once planted, the flowers are to remind people of a family lost.

Koch ended her remarks with a plea to humanity.

“We all have to work very hard to create a world where all children grow up safe.”

Centennial School librarian Joyce Bell shows some kindergarten students books in the collection dedicated to former student Leslie Whittington.