Quarry Hill raises thousands for 9/11 memorial
PEkkSBURY – It’s better to give than receive. The generosity of the 560 students at nuarry Hill Elementary School really shined as student council members stood on stage and presented Ellen Saracini with a giant A2,500-check toward the maintenance of the Garden of Reflection.
The school had the fundraiser because it was the 10th anniversary of 9-11 last year.
Saracini was instrumental in seeing the Garden come to fruition in remembrance of those who died during the terroristic attacks on the United States on 9-11.
Her late husband, Victor Saracini, perished that day. He was the captain of United clight 175 that struck the South Tower. The family lives in Lower Makefield Township.
The Garden of Reflection 9-11 Memorial is the official Pennsylvania memorial to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The memorial was created to remember and honor the nation’s 2,973 people killed in the shocking event. It is situated in Memorial Park amid the natural beauty of farmland in Lower Makefield Township.
After the assembly, Saracini said, “I’m here at nuarry Hill Elementary School today with all the students -- a school where my children attended.”
The children learned about the connection their school has with the Saracini family. Both hirsten Saracini and Brielle Saracini went through their elementary years at nuarry Hill, where their mother was an active volunteer.
“I understand school spirit,” Saracini said. “I understand volunteerism and it’s really nice to see that the students today are carrying on a tradition of being there for the commu- nity.”
Last year, the whole student body from nuarry Hill Elementary took a field trip to the Garden of Reflection to experience the memorial before stepping out on a year-long fundraiser for the Garden of Reflection. The student council led the effort.
The students, many who had never been to the memorial which is located about two miles from the school, really began to understand the Garden’s meaning.
Robyn Rowlands, who teaches gifted students and is student council facilitator, reminded the children that they raised “all of that money to help keep the Garden to stay beautiful.” Maintenance, she said, includes caring for the plants and flowers, and keeping the water flowing in the fountains.
Some students had a special day in April when they went over to clean up the Garden of Reflection. The hope is that the children and their families will continue the service.
nuarry Hill is connected to the Garden of Reflection not only because Saracini’s daughters went to school there, but also as a community, the school has become part of the effort to keep the Garden beautiful.
“We have such a connection with the events that happened on that day,” Rowlands said. “I was here that day. I had Brielle in my classroom.”
Saracini, who talked with the students last year at the Garden, was at the school the morning of horrific event.
At the assembly last week, she addressed the students and faculty. “My first words to you are thank you very much,” she said. “It means a lot to the Garden of Reflection. It means a lot for all of you to be involved with something with the Garden of Reflection.
“It will continue on by you being a participant -- by you taking a step forward and making sure that the Garden of Reflection is preserved and its beauty remains for future generations,” Saracini emphasized.
Saracini said the school’s donation is “monumental and it’s very much appreciated. We thank all of you. I know you worked really hard.”
kow, nuarry Hill Elementary will be on a list at the Garden for its contribution.
Some of the students lingered after the assembly, including two fifth-graders -- Matthew Lazzarino and Harrison Reeves, both age 10.
Matthew said, “I think what they did at the Garden of Reflection is really amazing. I had never been there before so I don’t know the difference, but it’s amazing.”
Meanwhile, Harrison said, “The Garden of Reflection …is really remarkable and is a great sign of remembrance for many people to go there and see that a lot of people cared about the people that died on 9-11.”
Dr. Peggy Schiavone, nuarry Hill principal, commended the students for wearing orange, one of Pennsbury’s colors, and showing their school spirit.
“A few years ago when I became principal of nuarry Hill I was walking through the Garden of Reflection and I was just reminiscing and thinking about the meaning about the garden…
“I thought to myself that nuarry Hill has a very very special connection with the Garden of Reflection,” she told the students. “I made myself a promise. I was going to make sure that every student got to see the Garden of Reflection and to understand the meaning behind it…”
nuarry Hill will now be on a list at the Garden of Reflection for the school’s contribution.