AP Photo by Tomas Munita Afghan workers prepare the stones of what is to become a new girl's school in Surkh Abat, a village about 45 kilometers (30 miles) south of Kabul in Logar Province, Afghanistan, Saturday, April 23, 2005.

Remembering Peter: Afghan School Built to Honor Son
By Andrea Salisbury, 09.08.05

In her ten day trip to Afghanistan, Sally Goodrich will check on the progress of a girls’ school and commemorate her sons murder. Peter Goodrich was killed when the second plane hit the world trade center on 9/11.

“The Goodrich family,” Goodrich pauses. “We are a 9/11 family; you cannot detach us from Afghanistan.”

This past year, Goodrich has worked within the Berkshire school system in Massachusetts to educate U.S. students about the Afghan culture. She, along with many others, also worked to build an all girls’ school in the province of Logar.

“We [the Goodrich family] understand the ramifications of ignoring a problem,” Goodrich said. Education is part of the problem, said Goodrich. This school will help Afghanistan rebuild and serve as a memorial for Peter. Goodrich said that the school construction is something Peter would do.

A Letter Home: “If you do anything please send school supplies.”

August 2004, Major Rush Filson, Peter’s childhood friend, went on a voluntary tour of duty in Afghanistan. Upon arrival Filson saw a need within the school system. In a letter to home, Filson wrote of a school in need. He encouraged his family to send school supplies, Goodrich said.

Based on Filson’s request, the funds from, the Peter M. Goodrich Memorial Foundation sparked a “One Day’s Pay” project to send school supplies to Afghanistan. The project did not end there.

“It seemed stupid to send supplies to tent schools,” Goodrich said. “They might have the plastic containers to keep out the snow [from the ruining the supplies], but no where to store them.” The project blossomed to include the construction of a permanent school structure.

Breaking Ground: “It did not begin with a decision to build a school.”

Don Goodrich, Sally’s husband, participated in the 9/11 hearings that resulted in a call to improve schools within the United States.

It was Kathleen Rafiq, a television producer in Santa Barbara, CA and family friend that first suggested looking into building a school in Afghanistan. The project came together from there.

“It was a leap of faith,” Goodrich said. “The school existed, we just helped it evolve.”

Goodrich is quick to give others credit. David B. Edwards, Professor of Anthropology and Afghanistan Scholar at Williams College, in Mass., found the land to build on in Afghanistan. The Afghan elders within the community approved the building, said Goodrich.

“The preexisting school was under a tent, or in a building.” Goodrich said. “It was not safe.” Once the school is built, Goodrich said the building will serve an estimated 520 female students from seven villages. The students are waiting to enter.

Currently the foundation has raised 180 thousand dollars. Goodrich said they still need money for furniture, playground equipment, a generator and a surrounding wall.

The Afghan People: “A unique set of human beings”

“Afghanistan is a physically beautiful country,” Goodrich said. “An intelligent country that expresses great hope. It [her visit] was amazing.”

In April 2005, Goodrich went to Afghanistan to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. While she was there, Goodrich was warmly received by the students. The children offered gifts and a peak into the classroom.

She said the Afghan people were hospitable and were focused on improving education.

“It is a primary goal of parents to get their children to school,” Goodrich said. “In every village you see a school…In the United States we take public education for granted. It was a stark contrast.”

Currently Afghanistan is rebuilding. “Every aspect of society is in a transitional phase,” Goodrich said.

The Ministry of Education is working to improve the school curriculum. This school building is part of the change. Goodrich encourages those who are financially able to “reach out”

“I would tell everyone to pick a place and build a school,” Goodrich said.

Goodrich is in Afghanistan for Sept. 11, marking four years since her son’s murder. She plans to find a quiet spot and remember Peter.

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