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Neighbors | Zack Shively.Boardman Stadium Elementary School hosted a "Patriot Day" assembly to pay respects to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Principal Michael Zoccali asked what it means to be a hero and went to the students for answers.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively .Jerry Blasco helped students turn over soil on a tree that Blasco had donated for the Patriot Day event. The tradition of turning over soil on a donated tree has been going on since the first Patriot Day.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively .Students waved flags during their Patriot Day assembly on Sept. 11 at Stadium Elementary.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively .Police Captain Donald Lamping spoke to Stadium Elementary students during their Patriot Day assembly on Sept. 11.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively .Missy Struharik's first-grade class met with Prinicpal Michael Zoccali and members of the emergency services, such as Captain Donald Lamping and Fire Chief Mark Pitzer, during Patriot Day on Sept. 11.
by ZACK SHIVELY
Boardman Stadium Elementary School hosted a memorial event in honor of Patriot’s Day on Sept. 11 to pay respects to the victims of the 2001 attacks.
Principal Michael Zoccali led the event. The students met in the gymnasium of the school. The ceremony opened with select students on stage reciting “The Pledge of Allegiance.”
Zoccali then began to speak about the concept of heroes and what makes a hero. He asked the students what they thought and called on a few to share their thoughts. The students and principal said that those in the emergency services are great examples of heroes. He finished by asking the students to pay respect to those in the emergency services by helping out their parents, teachers or fellow classmates on the date.
Police Captain Donald Lamping spoke to the students after Zoccali. He talked about the importance of education and how the children should not take their education for granted. The students went outside following his speech.
Outside, the students gathered around a tree donated by Jerry Basclo of Blasco Commercial Services. The school has a continued tradition of turning over soil on a donated tree. The tradition began at the first Patriot Day event. Blasco donated a Princeton Gold Maple tree to the school.
The school placed the tree by the playground.
Fire Chief Mark Pitzer spoke to the students outside. After he spoke, the police and fire department had their vehicles parked near the playground for classes to view closely. The students and teachers began their school days following the event.