As part of this year’s Memorial Day program at Bain, which has been a tradition since World War II ended, three students who are immigrants from Syria took to the podium to speak to the large crowd about why they appreciate Memorial Day weekend.

Sidra Tobal, alongside her classmates and fellow Syrian natives Rodayna Hallak and Haneen Al Suwaidani, said that all of their families were able to escape Syria and move to Cranston amid the dangerous situation currently ongoing in Syria.

She said that while she was in Syria, she saw firsthand what oppression by a government is like, explaining that Syrian people aren’t allowed to express their opinions, don’t have freedom of speech, and journalists cannot publish anything without the permission of the Syrian regime.

“When Syrian people demanded their freedom, they were tortured and imprisoned,” Tobal said, adding that some of their family members were among those taken away. “This has happened to so many families there.”

The three Bain student’s families had to escape from Syria because they were living in danger, Tobal said, and could only take certain things, leaving behind many of their possessions in their home country.

“We did not know whether we’d live or die when we were escaping,” she said.

Now that they live in Cranston, she expressed gratefulness about no longer living in an oppressive and dangerous country that doesn’t allow the same freedoms as the United States.

“Today in America we have many things, but the most important is freedom,” she told the crowd. “The freedom to express our faith and have opinions on anything and everything. We live in safety without fear, we walk on the streets without fear, we go to school without fear. Today we would like to honor all of the soldiers who have given their lives for freedom. For this, we are thankful.”

The Bain program, which took place Friday afternoon, honored the many former Bain students who died while serving in the military.

Liam Ellinwood, an eighth grader who guided along the program, said that the school used to plant a tree for every former Bain service member who died, but because there have been so many they now dedicate trees in the name of all of them. They also planted flowers alongside wooden stars and the names of each of the men and women they were honoring.

Bain principal Jeffrey Taylor said that this program is among the most special traditions they have at the school because of how many former Bain students have “made the ultimate sacrifice” for the country.

“The individuals we remember today walked in our halls, sat in our classrooms, they were our friends, part of our community,” Taylor told the crowd. “We gather today to give them thanks. And let’s honor all who have fallen not only today but each and every day through our actions.”

He said that the school has an ongoing unit that they teach to all of their students to educate them on the importance and history of Memorial Day, as they want to teach the students why they have the opportunity to enjoy all the rights and freedoms they have today.

Among the additional speakers at the program were Superintendent Jeannine Nota, Mayor Allan Fung, and school committee member Michael Traficante, who spoke to the students about the importance of Memorial Day.

“Memorial Day weekend is not about beaches, barbecues, or store discounts,” Traficante said. “It’s about remembering and honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I can live lives in freedom.”

Anyone who has a family member who attended Bain and died in the line of duty can email their information to bainstudentcouncil Hugh G. Bain Middle School c/o Student Council, 135 Gansett Ave., Cranston, RI 02910.