LORDSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL At assembly, patriotism moves front and center

A New York City man paid for the shirts worn by students, teachers and staff.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- Red, white and blue were the colors of the day at Lordstown High School.
Students and many teachers and staff wore matching T-shirts Friday with an emblem of the American flag with God Bless America and 09/11/01 written underneath.
The school gathered for an assembly on patriotism. State Rep. John Boccieri, of New Middletown, D-57th, an Air Force Reserve pilot, was the guest speaker.
Principal Larry Crawford said he usually gets a treat for each student every year for Sweetest Day, which is today.
This year, Walter Kaye, a wealthy New York City resident, paid for the T-shirts. Kaye has previously paid for trips for Lordstown students.
Crawford forged a relationship between Kaye and the school a few years ago after reading a magazine article about him. The article dealt with Kaye's many charitable and philanthropic endeavors.
"Years from now, we will remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on Sept. 11," said Jackie Holton, a senior and student council president.
Started a collection: Student council decided to start a collection for victims of the terrorist attacks.
The students will give a check for more than $500 to the American Red Cross next week.
"Our school, as well as our nation, began to unite," Jackie said. "We feel an overwhelming sense of what being an American is all about."
Boccieri's words followed a similar theme.
"Generations of Americans answered the call in defense of freedom and democracy," he told the students. "America is strong because so many before us have been strong."
Boccieri, an Ursuline High School graduate, expects to be called to active duty.
He flies C-130 cargo planes out of the Air Reserve Station at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna, and served in 1999, protecting the no-fly zone over Iraq.
He has made similar appearances at schools throughout the 57th district, which includes parts of Mahoning and Stark counties and all of Carroll County.