Schools unite in aid TEN-YEAR-OLD Cue Lee of Aliamanu Elementary School "used to think TV stars were heroes."
to terrorism victims
Hawaii schools join the nation's
efforts with assemblies,
fund-raisers and patriotic decorBy Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.com"But now I know who the real heroes are," he said of the police and firefighters involved in the rescue efforts at the World Trade Center in New York.
Lee and his fellow officers of the school's Student Council, president Stephanie Spearman, vice president Derrick Robinson and treasurer Benjamin Purvis, have spearheaded a campaign to show their newfound heroes how much they are appreciated in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
They have raised $2,800 to give to the American Red Cross, $500 of it in coins collected in their "Pennies and Prayers" drive, said advisor Robynne Ching. The total included money raised from selling red, white and blue ribbon pins, faculty donations and other contributions from the community, Ching said.
Students have written notes of thanks on cards they have made, many of them illustrated with firefighters, planes and tall burning buildings, which will be sent to New York along with the donations.Demonstrations of support and patriotism are being practiced in almost every school in the state, although there is no coordinated effort by the state Department of Education, according to Lana Mito, advisor to the Hawaii State Student Council.
"In one way or the other, most schools are doing something" to show their support, she said, whether it is a fund-raising drive, making cards or having assemblies.
Because most of Aliamanu's student population comes from military families, Ching said the school project also was designed to help the children express their feelings as a therapeutic means of coping with the fear that a parent might soon be deployed to fight in a war.
Lee, council treasurer, initially was "really scared that relatives in New York were dead." They turned out to be OK, but, he said, "if I was old enough, I'd give my blood and do everything to help."
Robinson, 11, wanted to be a track star, but now, "I'd like to be a firefighter, a cop or an MP (military policeman) because I want to save lives," he said. He is afraid that his father, who serves in the Navy, will have to go to war.
Spearman and Purvis, both 11, said they are relieved that their fathers work on submarines, which should be safe underwater from airplane attacks. But Spearman said she is still "very afraid he's going to have to go to war. Every morning, I tell him, 'I love you,'" she said.Purvis said the explosion that occurred when the planes hit the twin towers reminded him of two movies, "but the real thing is sad."
Pearl City Highlands Elementary School's special-needs students were collecting "Kindness Pennies," while other classrooms made ribbons, flags and banners, and the school sung patriotic songs at an assembly.
Royal School students are illustrating "What Peace Means to Me" at the request of City Councilman Jon Yoshimura, according to Principal Sandra Ishihara-Shibata. The school observed moments of silence, and every student was asked to write about their thoughts and feelings in their journals, she said.
Hanalani Schools in Mililani held a special assembly honoring police and firefighters with lei, a prayer service and patriotic songs, with parents and state representatives as guests.
Hanalani students also collected donations to give to the Hawaii Community Foundation; made buttons; held a Red, White and Blue Day; and decorated the school's block-long fence along Anania Drive, according to Hanalani media spokesman Scott Yoshino. The chaplain at the Christian-based private school and others also provided counseling, he said.
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