Island Park schools remember Sept. 11

Over the summer, the new principal of the Lincoln Orens Middle School in Island Park, John Barnes, received a letter from Julia Sarnelli, suggesting that the school hold a remembrance ceremony for the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Barnes thought it was a wonderful idea and set things in motion.

It was only later that he realized that Julia Sarnelli was a student at his school.

The LOMS students were given an assignment over the summer: to write about their feelings and experiences from 9/11, or their family’s experiences.

“While we’re very glad to be coming together and commemorating and remember this day, how unfortunate that we would have to be here, talking about some of these things,” Barnes said to the packed LOMS auditorium, which was filled with students, teachers, administrators and family members on Sept. 12.

All of the students in the school participated in the essay writing, although only 20 were chosen to read their works at the ceremony. All of the students’ work, however, will be on display at the school.

“At times when we may be down and out, or when we may see a classmate or friend who is down and out, let the 9/11 heroes continue to inspire us and remind us that each of us is capable of rising to a new challenge, and accomplishing something very special,” Dr. Rosmarie Bovino, superintendent of schools, said to the children at the end of the ceremony. “While it is important to look back to what happened 10 years ago so we know America’s history, please remember that it is equally important to look forward to the next 10 years and plan for a very bright and happy future as American citizens.”

After the ceremony had concluded and most students had returned to class, Barnes took the students who read their pieces, along with their family, outside for a tree planting ceremony. The Sarnelli Family provided twin Japanese Snowdrop Trees to the district, which were planted outside Lincoln Orens. They will flank a bench, which will serve as a memorial to those lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

Everyone who came outside — the students, the parents and the officials — contributed at least one shovelful of dirt to the planting of the trees.

“Just think, guys,” Barnes said to the students while the students were planting the trees, “when you drive by here when you’re in high school or college, you can look at these trees and think to yourself, ‘I planted those.’”