Students, officials gather to remember fateful day
By Lauren Parker-Gill, Staff Writer, The Times
Students, local elected officials and law enforcement and public safety officers gathered last week to honor the memory of those lost in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. From left, state Sen. Andrew Dinniman, Coatesville Area School District Superintendent Dr. Cathy Taschner and State Rep. Harry Lewis join the pledge of allegiance during the ceremony.
EAST FALLOWFIELD – Students and teachers, all dressed in red, white and blue, encircled the flagpole out front of East Fallowfield Elementary School Friday, Sept. 11 for a 9/11 Memorial ceremony that was also attended by parents, administrators, first responders, as well as Coatesville School District’s superintendent Cathy Taschner, State Sen. Andrew Dinniman and State Representative Harry Lewis.
It all began with a candlelight vigil on the steps of East Fallowfield Elementary School at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, where students, teachers and parents gathered to comfort each other after the horrific attacks on American soil that day.
“I remember how unifying that moment was…I was touched by the camaraderie we felt by gathering together that night,” said Nina Petro, a teacher who is now retired from East Fallowfield School.
In a unified effort by the principal and teachers at the school, Petro has helped plan the 9/11 Memorial each year. Students are asked to wear red or white shirts and they make paper flags to wave during the ceremony.
“We read passages and watch a power point about 9/11 to discuss the events that unfolded that day and the effects they have had on our country since then. I want to make sure they understand why we have this memorial service beforehand,” said Cari Jones, a fourth-grade teacher at East Fallowfield.
As the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts saluted the flag being flown at half-staff, the students quietly gathered outside. Mr. Wayne Wallace, principal of East Fallowfield School, lead the school and visitors in the singing of the national anthem.
Petro then spoke about that beautiful September morning, 14 years ago, when people left their homes and went to work on what started out as an ordinary day.
“Rising from the dense smoke and ash at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the clear, bright colors of our flag were seen as a testament to America’s resolve to pull together, heal and move forward…The love of freedom that lives in every American will not be diminished…God bless America!” Petro said.
In closing, Petro read the names of the people from Pennsylvania, who were killed in the attacks that day, each followed by a single chime of the xylophone, played by Alex Shultz, a fifth-grader at the school.
Michael Andrew Bane
Jasper Baxter
James Patrick Berger
Harry Blanding, Jr.
Kevin L. Bowser
Joseph Calandillo
Peter A. Chirchirillo
Christoper Robert Clark
Jeffrey Coale
Joseph W. Flounders
Donald G. Havlish, Jr.
Michael R. Horrocks
Donald W. Jones
George Lopez
Joseph Lostrangio
Walter Arthur McNeil
Mary Melendez
Alan H. Merdinger
Louis J. Nacke
Lt. Jones Martin Panik
Laura Marie Rago
Efrain Franco Romero, Sr.
Victor J. Saracini
Larry John Senko
Johanna Sigmund
George Eric Smith
William R. Steiner
Sandra Wright
Students and staff then sang patriotic songs like, “God Bless America,” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” while waving their handmade flags, before going back to their classrooms.
“Our 9/11 memorial is one of my favorite days at East Fallowfield. I feel it is important to memorialize the innocent people who lost their lives as well as honor those who fight for our freedom on a daily basis,” said Jones.
Each year, Modena Fire Company, Westwood Fire Company, the County Sheriff’s Department, East Fallowfield Police, State Police Troopers, Cub Scout Pack 219, Girl Scout Troop 4146 are invited to attend and participate. Unfortunately, Modena and Westwood Fire companies were called away because of an emergency and were unable to attend.
