The annual commemoration of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire on March 25 drew doz- ens of elected officials, union officials, teach- ers, students and labor activists to the Green- wich Village corner where the tragedy that galvanized the labor movement occurred 104 years ago. “It’s important that we recognize what took place here for the community, and important for young people to know they are part of history by being part of this event,” said Sterling Roberson, the UFT vice president for career and technical education high schools,in his remarks from the temporary stage near the historic building that the factory once occupied. Caroline Roswell’s 5th-grade class at PS 229 in Woodside, Queens, came in for the event, many wearing old-fashioned shawls and hats that evoked the styles that some ofthe Triangle workers might have worn in 1911, and carried signs honoring the dead. “They were fascinated by the Triangle story,” Roswell said. Students did research using the Cornell University website dedicated to the tragedy. They saw photos of the victims and werestruck by how young they were.“It’s inspiring, because it changed the laws,” said Andrea,11. “It was really sad because the owners were selfish and didn’t care.” Teacher Michael Nappi brought 19 of his 2nd-graders from PS 347 in Gramercy Park. The students, who are bilingual in American Sign Language and English, have been reading a book about the fire. “They enjoyed the ceremony because they made the connection with the books and the shirtwaists,” said Nappi. Many students took turns reading the names of the dead as a fire captain tolled a bell after each name, and a ladder was raisedto just below the top floors where 146 garment workers died. ire.