CHICAGO, September 11 (IslamOnline) - From California to Florida, from Seattle to New York, most Muslims will observe Wednesday, September 11, not only as the day that marks the first anniversary of the attack on American soil in the twenty first century, but also as a day that challenges their identity and what they stand for.

Islamic Schools - like many other Islamic institutions - will be observing the year mark with reflection on how the past year has affected their lives.

In California, the 260 students of the New Horizon School, one of the leading Islamic schools of the state, will be gathering in an unusual Wednesday assembly to recite prayers for those who lost their loved ones and to mourn the death of innocent lives.

“We feel we are victimized twice, first as Muslim Americans as the attack was against all of us, second because of our faith which we share with those who executed the attacks and we feel we are being blamed for their acts,” said Necva Ozgur, principal of the Pasadena campus of the school.

The Parent institution of the school, the Islamic Center of Southern California, observed a Fajr (dawn) prayer, and remembered the event at that early time of the day to share with other fellow Americans the same moments of mourning, since California’s time zone is three hours later than that of New York and Washington D.C. The Center invited members of the interfaith community to attend the early service as part of observing the anniversary.

Ozgur said that part of the school mission is to encourage the Muslim children to be actively involved in protecting their country. He added that Wednesday’s ceremony will focus not only on protecting the country’s airports and buildings but just as much on the importance of defending the American constitution and its civil rights and freedoms.

In the Islamic Academy of Huda, at Tampa Florida, the regular school day will have an hour long open discussion with the kids, the staff and the principal after the Zuhr (noon) prayer to follow a similar discussion on how the events affected the children and their families.

“The purpose is to let the 305 children of the school speak their minds, their fears and express other related issues that concern them as Muslims in the U.S.,” said Abdul Majid, the school principal.

With a concern for security, like many other Islamic organizations, the school has informed the local police stations and took adequate precautions against any backlash that may arise against Muslim children on the first anniversary.

In the city of Chicago, with close to a half million Muslims and over 50 Islamic institutions, the community is observing September 11 in various ceremonies. At Universal School, a group of the students will participate in a remembrance ceremony of the local village to take place at the same time of the morning when the first plane hit the World Trade Center tour.

The school, located a few blocks away from the Mosque foundation in Chicago’s South suburb of Bridgeview, which is heavily populated by Palestinians and witnessed the most violent rage against Muslims a year ago when a mob of 500 people gathered around the mosque to attack its building and the worshippers, will be holding an ecumenical service with Maria Catholic High School to pray for Peace in the World.

In the North suburb of Northbrook, Averroes Academy, an elementary Islamic school, will observe the first anniversary during its morning assembly, with emphasis on the duty of Muslim youths to show the beautiful face of Islam, the face of peace and rationality as transpired through the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (Allah’s Prayers and Peace Be Upon Him).