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| Paying tribute to local heroes |
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| Written by Aaron Cedeño | |||
| Wednesday, 16 September 2009 08:00 | |||
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While standing inside the gym at Broadmoor Elementary School on Friday, it was hard for Becky Bowes to remember when “Patriot Day” had been something relatively small. What started as the brainchild of Bowes – principal of Rockville Elementary School – after the events of September 11, 2001 had transitioned from students singing around the flagpole on the one-year anniversary, to an entire gymnasium packed full of parents and other members of the community.  “I said, ‘We’re so big again, we probably need to rethink how we want to do it,’” Bowes said, recalling a recent conversation with music director Alison Moore. “When we used to have it outside at the (football) stadium, we would just fill the stadium.” As they have every year since 2001, the student bodies of Broadmoor and Rockville gathered to honor those who died during the events of 9-11, with patriotic songs and heartfelt testimonials. As the years have passed since that day, however, so has the message of Patriot Day begun to change. Not that they will ever forget or fail to honor the heroes of 9-11, Moore said, but they now reflect an understanding of the lessons those events taught us. “I want there to be a positive spin, and I want the kids to understand what it is to me, what I believe a good citizen does,” she said. “And what they believe a good citizen should do. It’s been a focus on citizenship and heroism more than anything.” Which is why they’ve made a point to include members of the local fire and police departments in the ceremony, Bowes said, as well as local members of the armed forces. Not to forget 9-11, but to show sincere appreciation and honor to those who work locally to keep the Louisburg community, and the country, safe. Because most of the students enrolled at Rockville and Broadmoor don’t remember much, if anything, about the events of 9-11, bringing in that local tie has been important. Moore does her best to educate them about the importance of the day, but being able to put a face with the sentiment has been an immense help, Bowes said. “With the older kids we do talk about 9-11,” she explained. “With the younger kids they don’t get that yet. It’s just above them.” Of course, Patriot Day also provides the students with an opportunity to show off their voices; a talent that Moore believes they work very hard to perfect. Having the opportunity to perform for their fellow students and a large crowd of parents gives them something to work toward, she said, and additional motivation. “They want to please people, and we’ve got great kids in Louisburg,” Moore said. “They work so hard, and whatever I throw at them they just give it right back.” This is Chris McLean’s first year in the USD 416, so he wasn’t sure what to expect when he heard about the event. What he saw just provided further evidence of the dedication with which the Louisburg community supports its schools, and the quality of its students. “That’s one of the things I’m definitely most impressed by,” McLean said of the community turnout. “It sets such a good model for their kids. The kids go all out and the parents are there to support them.” Because it’s something so near and dear to their hearts, Bowes said, Patriot Day will continue indefinitely. How quickly it grows from here? Well, that has yet to be determined. “I don’t know that we’ll always do a combined thing, or maybe we’ll go back to the stadium,” she said. “But for the time being we’ll keep going, maybe emphasizing the ‘Patriot Day’ more than the tragedy aspect, especially with the little ones.”
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