Voorhees Middle School sixth graders of the Blue Team honored their personal heroes at the Hall of Heroes Remembrance Day Celebration on Oct. 17. The celebration was to recognize the people chosen in September by the Blue Team students as their personal heroes.
In its 13th year at Voorhees Middle School, Heroes Remembrance Day started after the events of Sept. 11, 2001. It was originally to honor those who were lost and those who helped on the fateful day. Since, it has evolved and extended to local and personal heroes.
“When 9/11 happened, we had children whose parents were working in New York, and it was like a healing celebration the first year. And over time it has evolved and expanded into honoring our first responders within our community and the kids look inside themselves to find people who inspire them and leave that imprint on their life,” Noreen Saggese, sixth grade social studies teacher and one of the event organizers, said.
The sixth graders of the Blue Team were to write an essay about their hero, saying why they were their hero and give the essay a creative title.
At the ceremony, students sat with their heroes and were asked to come up row by row to give their hero an American flag to pin on their shirts and give them a copy of their essay.
“It makes them so proud. In the events of 9/11, it makes your realize that your life can change in an instant. So you want to tell that person who’s special in your life that you love them; that you honor them; and that you value them,” Saggese said.
Heroes included parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and much more. Some different ones included a piano teacher, a football player and a younger brother.
“He is a pleasure to teach,” Keller said of Darren Frankel with a smile. Ruth Keller was not only a piano teacher to Frankel, but also to his mother years before. “He’s a wonderful student.”
In addition to their essays, students in the entire sixth grade, including the Red and White Teams, wrote letters of appreciation to policemen, EMTs and firefighters within the community as a part of their service project. Police Chief Louis Bordi and Fire Department Lt. George DeVakos accepted the letters on behalf of their departments.
Students also participated in a collection for the Animal Orphanage of Voorhees as another act of community service in dedication to the K9 dogs of Sept. 11. One dog they specifically honored was the dog Sirius, who they learned about through a book written by Hank Fellows.
Also at the ceremony were Mayor Michael Mignogna and Assemblyman Louis Greenwald who gave speeches on behalf of the heroes celebration. The Philharmonic Orchestra Quartet of Southern New Jersey provided musical accompaniment. Talented students of the middle school also performed songs and read essays on behalf of Heroes Remembrance Day.
