On Friday, September 11, DuBois Central Catholic staff and students from 1st grade through high school came together in the school gymnasium for a school-wide memorial service to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Father Michael Scanga led the service, which included the whole school family. Students from elementary, middle, and high school, teachers, faculty, and administration took part reading, singing and praying.
The service began with a candlelight ceremony, praying for each group affected by the attacks: those who lost their lives in the planes, those killed in the Twin Tower attacks, those who died and were injured at the Pentagon, the passengers of the four airplanes, first responders who risked their lives in service to others, and for all Americans.
Readings from the Bible were specially selected for the occasion. The first reading, from the Old Testament, Jeremiah 31:10-14, explains that God comforts his people and gives them gladness for sorrow. A reading from the Gospel according to Luke followed with the message, "Blessed are those who mourn" and that we are all called to love our enemies.
“These passages were specially selected for their relevance to the occasion,” said Father Scanga. “As Christians we are called to comfort the grieving, pray for those who are lost, and trust in God and his mercy.” He further explained, “In the middle of the evil of 9/11, there were examples of hope and God's light in the first responders and in Americans who came together to comfort one another.”
“The prayer service was such a meaningful way for our school to remember 9/11. It’s so important to pray for everyone who lost their lives and helped with rescue efforts. The service helped our younger students process the solemnity of this day,” said elementary principal Amber Wachob.
When Dubois Central Catholic began planning the service, Principal Karrie Miller realized that the students would have trouble relating to why the day is so emotional to most Americans.
“Our current students weren’t even born when the attacks happened, so I felt they needed more information to help them grasp the importance of this day,” Principal Karrie Miller explained. As a result, she decided to hold a special assembly for middle and high school students to better help them comprehend what that day means to America. Teachers were invited to speak to their students about their experiences on the day of the attacks.
Many of the teachers of the school were students when the attacks happened. They spoke to the students about their emotions and memories of the day. A common theme through all of their presentations was an emphasis on emotions. Presenters remembered what they felt more than what they observed. They talked about their fear as they tried to comprehend the tragedy and what it meant. They also remember being anxious because no one knew what would happen next.
“Your great-grandparents remember Pearl Harbor as a day that changed America. Your grandparents remember the Kennedy assassination. Your parents experienced 9/11 in the same way,” explained middle school social studies teacher Mike Micknis.
“I remember being afraid. When I went home from school, I still just wanted to be with my friends,” said teacher Renee Gressler, who was a student in high school. “We all went to a prayer service that night. I was so grateful that I could be together with my friends.”
“The plane that went down in Shanksville actually flew directly over DuBois earlier that morning,” retired state police officer Bernie Snyder stated. “I was feeding my infant son and watching the news when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Shortly after that, I got a call that I was to be deployed to guard the Interstate. All commercial traffic was prohibited. I had to let my wife know that I was going and would be away from home. No one knew what we were facing.”
You could have heard a pin drop as the students listened to the presentation. “The kids couldn’t have been more attentive,” said Miller. “I’m so glad we were able to talk and pray together. It’s so important that our kids understand how this day changed all of our lives, and still affects what we do today.”