Cedar Grove High School students are continuing the tradition of placing American flags on the school property to honor the lives lost in the Sept. 11 attack.

The flags and name markers placed on the front lawn of the school represent the 2,977 lives lost nearly 19 years ago. The students began preparing the display several days ago.

Cedar Grove Board of Education vice president David Schoner calls the display a “dignified and honorable way” to commemorate the anniversary of the attack.

“All the kids that are in Cedar Grove High School right now were not born or were just born. The biggest thing they get is that they get more of an education,” Schoner says. “They’re getting a little bit more of an understanding of what took place that day. The biggest thing is that we made a promise to those people that we would not forget. And the way we do that is to keep on education young people about that day, so they carry that memory with them.”

Two people from Cedar Grove died on Sept. 11. Two trees will be planted in their honor this year.

The flags will be on display until Sept. 23.