Menifee Elementary honors heroes, recognizes parents

By: CRAIG SHULTZ - Staff Writer | Monday, September 17, 2007 12:07 AM PDT ∞

MENIFEE -- Although most of the students at Menifee Elementary School are too young to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the school used the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States to hold its first Hero Day.

Many students dressed as their hero, be it a firefighter, police officer or military personnel, and they honored parents who serve in those fields.

Among the parents was Tom Petrak, an avionics electronic technician in the Navy, who was introduced by his daughters, 6-year-old first-grader Kaelynn and 10-year-old fifth-grader Ashley.

"I think this is great," said Petrak, who is based at Naval Air Station North Island. "This reinforces to (the students) to be happy for what they have."

The 10-year veteran, who just re-enlisted for another six, said his message to the children is to "be grateful for everything everyone does so you can have freedom."

Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Stephen Enochs was introduced by his daughter, Alyson, a 6-year-old first-grader.

"It's good to see the support for everybody in the community who helps out," he said.

Enochs, who was in the Marines on 9/11, said ceremonies like Wednesday's are important.

"It's something they should know about," he said of the attacks. "Like me knowing about Pearl harbor. They need to know a lot of people helped out on 9/11."

As part of the program, Menifee Elementary Principal Steve Kennedy sang "You Raise Me Up."

The anniversary is especially emotional for Kennedy, who lost a cousin in the Twin Towers during the attacks.

He said it was important to honor the families who are involved in public safety and public service.

Besides honoring the families, Kennedy said the day showed students what it takes to be a public servant.

"It's a special calling," he said. "They're not the highest paid, but we rely on them to risk their lives for the greater good. ... It's important to recognize their service."

Turning toward Enochs, who had walked into the school's office, Kennedy said "Gentlemen like this need our respect and admiration. He should be proud of his position and what he does every single day."

Kennedy's cousin worked in the World Trade Center and died in the collapse.

"It's been six years since I received a phone call at 6 in the morning from my father telling me to turn on the news," he said. "The whole world changed. ... I feel so passionate for people who were innocent that were killed. It was the World Trade Center, it was representative of everybody on the Earth. It was just a horrendous chapter in American history."

The program was the idea of the school's Parent-Teacher Association and was organized by fourth-grade teacher Janelle Lorch, who emceed the ceremony while wearing military fatigues, and first-grade teacher Debi Berton.

The program started with a moment of silence, followed by Kennedy's song, his first public performance. "My Hero" presentations, where students read patriotic and motivational passages and introduced their heroes, were followed by the playing of "God Bless America" by two band students and concluded with everyone singing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A."

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