Saint Andrew students reflect on 9/11

Intermountain Catholic

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The students at Saint Andrew School might not have been born yet, or maybe were very young when the event occurred, but they definitely could pray and reflect on the tragedy that was 9/11. When the Student Council was asked to think of service projects they could do, one of the first ideas was to remember those lost on 9/11. Jaclyn Testone, president of the Student Council said, "We wanted to do something that everyone could participate in. We wanted the students to think and pray about what happened on that day 10 years ago." What they came up with was "Flashlights for Reading." The students participated by bringing flashlights to read by as their classrooms were darkened in a time of silence. Members of the Student Council visited each room and began the remembrance with the following prayer:

"Loving God, we gather today to recall the events of Sept. 11. We lift to you all those people affected by 9/11 – those who died in the attacks, those who responded, those who now fight in wars as a result of that dark day, those who were personally impacted, and all those who still mourn the loss of loved ones.

"We lift up our prayers and our concerns and our desire to bring your love to a broken world. Send your Holy Spirit among us now, O God, to open our hearts and minds to your presence. We know you are a God of life, not death; you are a God of mercy, not vengeance. Lead us into holy actions that will glorify you and honor those who have died."

Students in Mrs. Pool’s 5th grade and Mrs. Hamann’s 2nd grade classes also remembered the heroes who saved so many lives by writing thank-you cards to firefighters. One of the cards read, "Thank you for all you do and all the lives you save. God bless you!"

Alex Cancio was a guest speaker for the 5th and 6th grade classes, recalling what it was like living in New York on 9/11. Alex showed the students a slide show presentation with numerous photos and a map showing the seven miles he walked from home to work that day among the debris and dust. "The most important thing I remember about living there on 9/11 and the days that followed was how all the people of New York came together and supported one another," he told the students. "I remember the lines around the block for blood banks, and the feeling that everyone was in it together."

While a vast majority of the student’s might not have personal recollection of that day, the experiences taken from the activities offered to them this past week are sure to be remembered forever.

Courtesy of Saint Andrew School