MIAMI | Many of the archdiocese’s schools marked
the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack — which has also become known as Patriot Day — with special activities. Here’s a
sampling, with pictures in the slide show above.
St.
Gregory’s seventh and eighth grade social studies classes created 144 “kindness
bags” to show their appreciation for the community’s first responders. Eighth
grade students also led a prayer and memorial service for those who perished in
the attack, with symbols of first responders reminding the school community of
their sacrifices and service to others.
Students
in grades kindergarten through fourth at St. Hugh created individual leaves,
with personalized messages and symbols of hope, to add to the school’s Survivor
Tree. The reference is to a Callery pear tree that endured the Sept. 11, 2001
terror attacks and, after some rehabilitation, is now part of the World Trade
Center memorial “as a living reminder of resilience, survival, and rebirth.” St.
Hugh’s principal, Mary Fernandez, called the students’ Survivor Tree "a beautiful
reminder that where there is darkness, we can bring light."
St. Kevin celebrated an outdoor Mass on the athletic
field to celebrate the heroes of 9/11. Twenty years ago, the graduating
class collected money for the Red Cross by selling t-shirts that said: God
Bless America. “We have invited the alumni from that class for this year’s
celebration,” said St. Kevin’s principal, Mayra Constantino, who was the eighth
grade teacher at St. Kevin then.
The
school commemorated Patriot Day with the annual “Tunnel to Towers” run led by
firefighters and police officers from the community. This year’s theme was based
on the book “America’s White Table.” A white table was set during the opening
ceremonies to honor the 13 soldiers lost last month to the terrorist attack in
Afghanistan.
On Sept. 10, a
Friday, St. Theresa students commemorated the day by dressing in red, white,
and blue and holding a moment of silence. A day later, the Church of the Little
Flower celebrated a special 9/11 Mass of Remembrance on the anniversary, followed
by Holy Hour and confessions. The church bells tolled at the times the twin
towers and Pentagon were hit and Flight 93 fell.
The commemoration
at St. Mark School in Southwest Ranches, which took place a few days earlier,
is covered here.