DURYEA — The Holy Rosary School family remembered victims of the September 11 attacks on U.S. soil during a prayer service Wednesday.
Students, faculty, staff, area residents, veterans and first responders gathered at 8:30 a.m. on the school’s playground for a solemn ceremony. The program began at precisely 8:46 a.m., the time of day when the first of the Twin Towers was struck.
Holy Rosary, which houses pre-school to grade 8, has always marked Sept. 11 in different formats but this year, school maintenance worker and Vietnam veteran Paul Burke suggested having a fundraiser for a flag to be flown on a flagpole installed on school grounds two years ago. The old flag had become ripped and torn and needed to be retired.
“We started because Mr. Burke, our maintenance man, is a retired vet when he asked if one of the classes would raise money for a new flag,” Holy Rosary principal Melissa Skutack, said. “At a faculty meeting, the teachers decided to collect money for the new flag.”
The large flag, purchased for approximately $200, will be illuminated at night.
It was also suggested to Skutack at the same faculty meeting to create a program commemorating 911 with raising the new flag, as well as honoring Burke who has been working at the school for the last eight years.
“We new 911 was coming up and our first responders are always around to help us out plus we have one of our own veterans working in the building, so we decided to get as many people involved,” said teacher Debbie Brady. “It was a collaborative effort on the school’s part.”
During the 911 ceremonies, a moment of silence took place at 8:46 a.m., students recited prayers for the victims, released biodegradable dove-shaped balloons, retired the old flag and replaced it with the newly purchased flag.
Burke recently decorated the base of the flagpole, adding a large stone with a plaque honoring all veterans. It reads, “In honor of all who have served this country to keep this flag flying high as a symbol of peace. We thank you. Let us never forget.”
“This is my pet project and they tore the house down to create the playground and they had a little flagpole and I wanted to do something bigger and better,” said Burke, who served in the Marines from 1966 to 1971. “We just finished everything up when school started.”
According to Burke, the cost of flagpole, flag, stone, plaque and landscaping totaled approximately $3,500, all of which was paid for with money raised.
“I think it’s a good thing for our school community to do because it honors people that passed away during 911 and honors people that fight for our country every day,” said eight-grader Rowan Lazevnick.
