St. Michael Remembers 9/11 & Honors Today's Heroes

A fireman's helmet, a police officer's hat, an EMS bag and a firefighter's coat. These items were carried forth with care by St. Michael students to begin the St. Michael 9/11 Memorial Mass on Friday, September 9. Members of the Orland Park Police Department and the Orland Fire Protection District followed the students to the altar to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Fr. Paul Burak urged churchgoers to "move forward with the peace of God," as he and the congregation honored not only the first responders who died on that terrible day, but the men and women of Orland Park who respond to emergencies every day.

Throughout the week leading up to the mass, St. Michael students watched video and news clips of 9/11. They also created thank you cards for local first responders and began working on class blankets with art teacher Mrs. Carlin Glennon. These gifts will be shipped directly to a military nurse stationed in Afghanistan, and used to cover wounded soldiers as they are transported to hospitals in Germany for recovery.

Mayor Dan McLaughlin also reflected on 9/11 with lessons from that day, including: Americans are resilient and bind together in hard times, who would you make your last phone call to and what are you waiting for? Time is limited for us all.

After mass, the entire student body of St. Michael welcomed the guests of the police and fire departments to a reception in the school gym. Breakfast goodies and treats were baked and donated by school families for the reception.
As the phrase, "Never forget" is associated with one of the most deadly days in United States history; let us never forget the first responders who rush to our aid daily without a thought for their own safety.