HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker
and First Lady Kathy Schweiker tonight remembered the heroes of Sept. 11,
2001, during a "Celebration of Hope and Freedom" in the Emergency Responder
Plaza.
"It's comforting to be here this evening with so many freedom-loving
Pennsylvanians," Gov. Schweiker said. "Pennsylvanians have always rallied
together to support one another. Tonight is no different."
Gov. and Mrs. Schweiker were joined by Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed,
state Sen. Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin), state Rep. John Perzel (R-Philadelphia)
for an evening of remembrance, which featured music, poetry and prayer.
In his brief remarks, Gov. Schweiker said America must make sure America's
children never endure such a day again.
"So many beautiful children lost loved ones that day," Gov. Schweiker
said. "And with them, precious moments in the future that should've been
shared. A daughter getting her first A in science. A son sliding into home
plate.
"So many more left to confront hatred much sooner than they deserved as
they watched horrific images of planes slamming into buildings.
"Ground zero may be cleared. The Pentagon may be restored. Somerset's
hills may be green once again. But for so many children, the emotional scars
remain."
Gov. Schweiker said parents also have a responsibility to teach their
children about what America stands for.
"It is our children in which we invest our hopes for a peaceful future,"
Gov. Schweiker said. "And while it is nice to gather as a group and joyously
celebrate freedom -- let us not forget that if America's children are to hold
freedom near and dear to their hearts and minds -- then America's parents,
each and every one of us, must resolve to put it there.
"Do that, and America's freedoms will live on."
The Susquehanna Chorale began the celebration by performing a concert of
patriotic and spiritual songs. Also appearing were:
-- Sgt. Kevin Pierce of the Pennsylvania State Police;
-- 16-year-old soloist Caroline Oszustowicz from Trinity High School in
Camp Hill, Cumberland County;
-- Susquehanna Youth and Children's Chorales;
-- Youth from VisionQuest's Camp James Webster Smith Hat Corps program in
Chambersburg, Franklin County, who presented the colors;
-- Rev. Ruth Fieldhouse of Trinity Lutheran Church in York;
-- Rabbi Shmuel Pewnzer of Chabad-Lubavitch;
-- Imam Arif Shaikh of the Islamic Society of Greater Harrisburg;
-- Iya Isoke, Harrisburg's Poet Laureate; and
-- 12-year-old Derek Leidigh of the Holy Name of Jesus School in
Harrisburg, who read his essay about Sept. 11 that won a Gold Key in
the 2002 "Patriot-News" Scholastic Writing Awards.
In addition, students from Saint Stephen's Episcopal School and the
Capitol Area School for the Arts, under the direction of the Susquehanna
Museum of Art, created a chalk mural on the Emergency Responder Plaza in honor
of the observance.
Dauphin County Library System's Sept. 11 memory wall and an exhibit of
newspaper photographs put together by the Harrisburg Patriot-News also was on
display.
The Wall of Hope, a collection of thoughts from Pennsylvania's children on
Sept. 11, was also on hand. Gov. Schweiker unveiled the Wall earlier in the
day at Shanksville Elementary School in Somerset County. Organizers then
transported the Wall to Harrisburg for the Celebration of Hope and Freedom.
The wall was conceived by Pennsylvania resident and children's advocate Thomas
Baldrick.
CONTACT: David La Torre, Press Secretary of Pennsylvania Office of the
Governor, +1-717-783-1116.
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
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Related links:
http://www.state.pa.us
CONTACT:
David La Torre, Press Secretary of
Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, +1-717-783-1116
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