Saturday, September 10, 2011

Aquinas Honor Society Holds Prayer Service for 9/11 Victims

(Click to enlarge image)

Family Members of Firefighter Carl Bedigian and Emerita "Emy" De La Pena Attend Tribute

On Friday, September 9, a special prayer service was held at the Immaculate Conception School (ICS) in Jamaica, New York. The tribute was conducted in honor of Firefighter Carl Bedigian, Emerita "Emy" De La Pena, Hector Tamayo, Frederick Varacchi and Deputy Chief Orio Palmer, Battalion 7, all of whom were taken on 9/11 and have a connection to the Immaculate Conception Parish and the school's Aquinas Honor Society.

The proceeding paragraphs pertain to the photo above.

Two Aquinas students are pictured standing on the left side of the hill by the Aquinas Memorial Bell. As ICS Principal Dorothea Breen read a timeline of events for that tragic day, the students tolled the bell.

Another student holds the flag and along the fence are family members representing firefighter Bedigian and Emy De La Pena. The families are pictured with Father Jack Douglas and Sister Karen Cavanaugh, C.S.J., from the Immaculate Conception Parish.

In the front row, from the left, a student holds the ICS school seal. Next to him, three students hold small boxes that contain pieces of stained glass that was used to create the school's Peace and Hope Memorial that hangs over the schoolyard entrance. They were presented to the families as a reminder of the service. More information about the Peace and Hope Memorial can be obtained at http://fromthegman.blogspot.com/2011/09/queens-honor-students-pay-tribute-to.html.

The following paragraphs pertain to this photo.


Two boys hold the bronze plaque that conveys the meaning of the Peace and Hope Memorial. As Sister Cavanaugh speaks, a student holds a display poster with photos of the aforementioned parishioners of the Immaculate Conception Parish who perished on 9/11.

A photo in the upper left section of the poster shows Gabriel and Emy De La Pena holding their infant daughter back in 2001. The daughter, now age 10, is pictured in the background wearing the striped shirt.

The plaque was blessed by Father Douglas, and representatives of the Bedigian and De La Pena families thanked the school for its kindness and support.

Photos courtesy of Carl Ballenas, Moderator for Aquinas Honor Society.

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