On the thirteenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the Fresno City College Jazz Singers gathered in the front of the school near the main fountain and sung an original song in honor and remembrance of those lost on that fatal day.

Mike Dana, head of the Jazz department, composed a version of the song America the Beautiful specifically for this anniversary, and the club performed the melody in memory of 9/11.

Cameron Briggs, a member of the Jazz singers, said of his recollection of Sept. 11, 2001 that it touched him because he had been to New York not long before.

“My dad for business had just taken us all to New York in August of that year. That morning he woke me up and explained to me what was happening. He had a picture of us right in front of it, a month before.”

Briggs mentions that “it’s more than just about singing for our country, it’s about singing for peoples lives.”

Jazz singer Jared Hughes had different memories from that day.

“I remember being in the living room with my dad and he was watching the news. I had no clue what was going on, I just remember seeing the two buildings on fire.”

Hughes also knew the value of the song and how inspirational the song was to him

“The lyrics to America the Beautiful are really amazing.” Hughes said. “It’s sad, but it takes something really bad for us to remember how blessed this country is.”

Video by: Cresencio Rodriguez