DMS HONORS LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS
“W
e need to
remember
that although
natural instinct
is to run away from danger, our first
responders were running toward it,”
Dorseyville Middle School teacher
Todd Ashbaugh told his students,
referring to the first responders in
New York City following the terrorist
attack on September 11, 2001. “They
are the real heroes.” They were treated to a full breakfast
catered by John Marshall Catering, who
helped sponsor the event along with
a Pittsburgh-based foundation. Each
student also contributed $5 to help
cover the cost.
As a part of the school’s September
11 remembrance, DMS students from
Team 7A wanted to do something
meaningful to show appreciation for
local first responders – those police
officers, firefighters, and emergency
medical personnel who protect and
serve the community every day. The
students thought it was fitting to host a
breakfast in their honor. “So often the police are represented in
the media to be the enemy, whereas we
see ourselves as being the friend in most
circumstances,” Chief Wilson stated.
Approximately 25 first responders
attended from local municipalities.
According to Indiana Township Police
Chief Robert Wilson, this was the first
time they had ever been honored in this
way, and he was especially grateful for
the one-on-one time to talk with the
students.
Sharpsburg Police Chief Tom Stellitano
shared that he feels a very real
connection with the community. He
grew up in Sharpsburg, graduated from
Fox Chapel Area High School, and
has been an officer on the Sharpsburg
force for 27 years. One of his main
goals since he became chief
over a year ago is for every
officer in his department to
connect even more with the
community and to reach out
to youth on a more personal
level.
“This is great,” he said. “We
need more of this in the
world. We need more kids
interacting with the police.”
Some of the 7A students
actually have relatives
12 Fox Chapel Area
who serve as first responders who
also attended the breakfast. Alexis
Fabrizi said that she is proud of her
dad, 14‑year O’Hara Township police
veteran John Fabrizi. “It’s important
to thank your officers, firefighters, and
EMS for their service and what they do
for us to protect us,” she said.
Seventh grader Oona Kreidler shared
a personal story about the events of
9-11 with her class. Recently she talked
with her dad who was in New York City
in a business meeting on the very day
when the planes struck the World Trade
Center. She said her dad could see the
twin towers from where he was at his
meeting. At first, they assumed that it
was a small plane that struck the first
tower. But when they were told another
plane had hit, they knew it was much
more serious. “My dad said he knew
the skyline would look different,” Oona
stated. “It was built so it wouldn’t tip
over, so it just went straight down.” She
said her dad had to take a ferry out of
the city and the line was 10 blocks long.
It took him all day to get home.
“A lot of first responders died on 9-11
and they showed a lot of selflessness,”
Oona added. “Even at our age, it’s
important to learn about the everyday
dangers that they face.” She felt the first
responders breakfast was important
because “Every little thing counts and it
should always be acknowledged.”