The Wantagh School District Announces the 2ND Annual Wantagh Warrior
9/11 Memorial 5K
Presented by The Gary Sinise Foundation
In Partnership With
Orlin & Cohen Sports Medicine
The Wantagh 6-12 Association
(May 29, 2025 – Wantagh, NY) The Wantagh School District will host the 2nd Annual Wantagh Warrior 9/11 Memorial 5K on Sunday, September 14, 2025 honoring the bravery and memory of those from the Wantagh community who were lost on September 11, 2001. The district is honored and proud to announce that the Gary Sinise Foundation, returns as the Gold Star sponsor continuing the partnership with the school district.
Funds raised from the inaugural Wantagh Warrior 9/11 Memorial 5K last September helped send 130 members of the school community to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City this past March. The proceeds raised from the run helped reduce the trip cost for students from $100 to just $20. Additionally, to honor the memory, bravery, and selflessness of those impacted by 9/11, the goal to create scholarships for graduating seniors was met which awarded $500 to five graduating seniors.
Each year on September 11th during homeroom, the names of those with ties to the Wantagh community are read aloud to preserve their memory. “Many of us who were alive that day have stories we can tell firsthand,” says Dr. Paul Guzzone, Principal of Wantagh High School. “We are moving into a new era as the next generation of teachers do not have those personal memories. There are teachers who weren’t alive 25 years ago who will be teaching about that day from a video or book.”
Last year, the Wantagh Warrior 9/11 Committee purchased children’s books to support elementary teachers in educating their students in a developmentally appropriate way about the events on that day. To further support this effort, $3,000 in teacher grants were allocated for district staff to apply for to support their instruction. Dr. Guzzone says “Going forward, we have to make sure we educate our students and educators through educational programs and commemorative events that engage the schools and community.”
Within five years, the district plans to finalize a memorial to be placed on school district grounds to honor those from the Wantagh community who were lost on September 11, 2001. Currently, the district is in the initial design phase with $30,000 allocated toward this project.
The partnership began in the spring of 2023 when The Gary Sinise Foundation selected Wantagh High School to participate in the “Soaring Valor Program.” This program selected 20 students who escorted 20 WWII Veterans to the WWII Museum in New Orleans for three days where these heroes’ oral histories were recorded to share with future generations. The experience was life-changing for both veterans and students. That following August, the Gary Sinise Foundation once again partnered with Wantagh High School to participate in their first ever 9/11 Memorial & Museum educational program where students born after September 11, 2001 were provided a guided tour of the museum and interacted with first responders who served on that day and the years that followed to bridge that knowledge across generations.
The 2nd Annual Wantagh Warrior 9/11 5K offers special military, first responder, and student rates. Children can participate in the Kids 1K Fun Run beginning at 8:30 a.m. For race, volunteer, donation, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit the race website. For additional information, please contact the 9/11 Committee at wsd9-11committee@wantaghschools.org . For more information on the Gary Sinise Foundation, please visit The Gary Sinise Foundation.
ABOUT THE GARY SINISE FOUNDATION
Gary Sinise is an award-winning actor and humanitarian, best known for his roles in CSI:NY, Apollo 13, and his Oscar-nominated performance in the film Forrest Gump as the wounded Vietnam veteran Lt. Dan Taylor. An advocate for our nation’s defenders since the 1980s, after 9/11 Sinise began a tireless crusade to support America’s military and first responders around the world with handshake tours and concerts with his band, the Lt. Dan Band. In 2011, he established the Gary Sinise Foundation as an extension of those efforts. Today, the Foundation is building custom homes for severely wounded heroes, honoring and supporting the families of our fallen, providing essential equipment and training for first responders, improving the mental wellness of our defenders, and so much more. For more information and to support, visit www.garysinisefoundation.org.
ABOUT WANTAGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Wantagh School District prides itself on educating the whole student through its focus on academic excellence as well as social skills and respect for others. Each school supports a collaborative and supportive environment for students and staff alike. The district, located just 25 miles east of New York City in Wantagh, NY, includes three elementary schools (K-5), one New York State Essential Elements School to Watch middle school (6-8), one National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence high school (9-12), and was named a NAMM Foundation Best Communities for Music Education program. For more information, please visit www.WantaghSchools.org.
ABOUT ORLIN & COHEN SPORTS MEDICINE
Orlin & Cohen offers a specialized sports medicine program exclusively for high school athletes. Available throughout Nassau and Suffolk, this program leverages all the resources that make us Long Island’s premier private orthopedic practice: Our fellowship-trained sports medicine subspecialists work together with our in-house diagnostic team and technology, as well as experienced physical therapists to develop and implement a treatment plan that provides your athlete with a faster, safer return to play.
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*For press inquiries, please contact Kimberly Thomas at (516) 765-4104 or send an email to thomask@wantaghschools.org.
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