Students recognize Patriot Day
September 13, 2009
Wentzville School District
Kindergarteners and first and second graders at Crossroads Elementary School participated in the annual Patriot Day Celebration to remember the lives lost on 9/11, and honor community service providers. The ceremony opened with remarks from fifth grade teacher David Bates, who organized the event along with first grade teacher Amanda Steck and Assistant Principal Bryan Howse.
“Today we are here to honor our community heroes that keep us safe everyday. We honor our firemen, our police, our doctors and nurses, our security guards, our National Guard, our Coast Guard and all our Armed Forces. These are the heroes that protect and keep our nation free.”
Bates went on to say “Eight years ago on a beautiful Tuesday morning, our country was attacked and innocent people died along with many firemen and police officers. We are here today to honor and remember those fallen heroes of September 11, 2001.”
After a moment of silence, Crossroads Principal Rick Beauchamp held up a special flag that was brought back from New York City by a Crossroads parent. The flag bears the names of the almost 3,000 people who died in the terrorist attacks on 9/11. The students were then led in the Pledge of Allegiance and the raising of the American flag by members of Boy Scout Troop 969.
Following the opening ceremony, the students visited different stations that were manned by first responders, who spoke with students about their jobs in the community. Participants included the St. Charles County Sheriff Department and “Canine Bob,” the Wentzville Fire Department, representatives from the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as Crossroad’s own DARE Officer, Joe Fomera.
Firefighter Mike Czerniewski had this to say about why the Wentzville Fire Department felt it was important to be a part of the day’s festivities: “We enjoy talking with students. It helps them to understand a little more about who we are and what we do. Especially on a day like this, we want them to know about the sacrifice that was made, especially by firefighters in New York City on 9/11.”
All of the students participating were born after September 11, 2001. According to Mr. Bates, that’s all the more reason to have this type of celebration. “We don’t want it to be just another day in history for them that they read about in a textbook. We want our students to know how lucky they are and always remember and understand what happened that day and why we cherish our freedom.”
Copyright 2009 Neighbors About Town
