BELLBROOK — On the Friday following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Bellbrook High School’s Charlie O’Dell ran onto the school’s football field with an American flag in his hands and the team behind him.

A photo of the event, which later appeared in Sports Illustrated, symbolized the patriotism that blew through the country following the unprecedented actions of the previous Tuesday.

Tonight, Sept. 11, a Bellbrook senior will simulate the event — as a Bellbrook senior does before every home game — as part of the first Friday of high school football to fall on the anniversary of the attacks.

Area schools will join those throughout the country in recognizing the date before the games, using the unique opportunity of community gatherings to show support for the military and honor the memories of those who died in the terrorist attacks.

“We’ve had soccer games and other events fall on Sept. 11, and we’ve done things at those events,” Bellbrook Athletic Director Tom Bean said. “But when it comes to football, it’s just a unique community gathering.”