Memorializing 9/11 by honoring those who serve
Students at St. Francis Cathedral School thank those who tried to save lives eight years ago
BY ENID WEISS Correspondent
Barbara Stevens, principal at St. Francis Cathedral School in Metuchen, wanted her students to learn about Sept. 11, 2001, and to honor those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks that took place that day.

To achieve that goal, the faculty and staff arranged a day in which the students participated in service projects in keeping with the theme of a national day of service.

"The school is service-orientated," Stevens said as she explained how students in several classes at the school decided to write letters to police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians to thank them for their efforts. Some letters were to be delivered locally, others would be sent to firehouses in New York City.

"Thank you for trying to save everyone in the Twin Towers disaster," wrote Connor Sweeney, a fourth-grader. "Everybody was scared on that day. But people like you saved people and died saving people."

Teacher Veronica Zirkle said the goal for her fourth-grade students was to make sure they were aware of what happened.

"Some of them have parents who told them about the day, but they didn't understand the impact," Zirkle told Greater Media Newspapers. "I told them about what happened. I want them to remember."

Two firefighters and a police officer, all from Metuchen, visited several classrooms, including fourth, second and first grades, on Friday. In each class, students read their letters or thank-you notes out loud.

"Dear Fireman, Thank you for saving people's lives from September 11," said fourth-grader Patrick Alva. "If you didn't go in the building, there were a lot of dead, but because you came in the building, you saved a lot, or some."

Alva said he hopes the firefighter who receives his letter will say, " 'These kids remember and said we did a good job.' "

"It's a very sad day for us," Metuchen Fire Department Deputy Chief Robert Donnan said as he thanked students for their sentiments, "as we remember the firefighters and all the people who died. … Firefighter service is a brotherhood: when a firefighter dies in California, there are strong feelings [in the rest of the country, too]… ."

"The letters were beautiful," said Patrolman Kenneth Bauer of the Metuchen Police Department. "They bring a smile to us on a sad day."

Another fourth-grader, Spencer MacLeane, read his letter and told how hearing tales of bravery on 9/11 inspired him to want to be a police officer when he grows up.

"There were a lot of people who needed your help that you saved," MacLeane said. "Those people are grateful that you saved them."

Later, Donnan told the Sentinel that he appreciated hearing how the children were learning about 9/11.

"Too many events in our history get forgotten," Donnan said. "They really seem to understand what it means. It helps us in remembering our fallen brothers."