Commemoration recognizes responders and teaches students about 9/11
Butler Catholic School's 9/11 commemoration Friday morning served a two-fold purpose.
School Principal Sister John Ann Mulhern said the special ceremony at the school's grotto was a recognition of the nation's police, firefighters, first responders and military.
She said it was also an opportunity to teach the school's kindergarten through eighth-grade students why Sept. 11 was important.
Local firefighters, state police, veterans and parents and grandparents were invited to the program of songs, readings, blessings and candle lightings.
Two Butler Fire Department trucks and their crews were present at the event.
The service, which began at 9:30 a.m., featured the student body in appropriately colored clothing formed into an American flag and singing patriotic songs and hymns.
Katie Neubert, the school's music director, said the 240 students had been practicing for two weeks.
There were accounts of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the raising of the flag, candles lit beneath photos showing the events of that day in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa., and a blessing at the end of the event.
“We do this to remember, to honor and to pray,” said Sister John Ann. “Twenty years ago, something horrific happened.
We will not forget it, but because of it our country has grown.”Various readers recounted the 78 minutes of 9/11 when domestic jetliners crashed into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a field outside of Shanksville, and the country found itself under attack.Ashleigh Konopski of Butler, who has a son, Richard, in the eighth grade at Butler Catholic, attended the commemoration.“It is beautiful,” Konopski said. “It was a heartfelt remembrance.”“I think it was so well done, very emotional and very fitting,” said Joe Monaco of Butler, whose twin grandchildren, Lily and Brody, are students at the school.“It was emotional,” Monaco said. “It is very important to remember what happened that day.”“It was very beautiful and also an honor to pay tribute to the heroes,” said the Rev. Dan Waruszewski of All Saints Parish, who participated in the ceremony.At the end of the program, Sister John Ann said, “I was very pleased with the first-responders, veterans and firefighters.”Speaking of the commemoration, Sister John Ann said, “I hope it brought comfort and healing strength to those that were here, understanding of why this day is so important and an opportunity to recognize the service police, firefighters, medical people and veterans have given to the world.”
