‘Honor America’ highlights importance of helping others, even in danger
Trending
STEUBENVILLE -- A reminder about the importance of standing up for others was shared Friday morning in the auditorium at Steubenville High School.
“Our country has never been perfect, but what makes America special is the people who are willing to stand up, step forward and work to make it better,” said Ken Anderson. “For 250 years, generations of Americans have answered that call. Our first responders, our teachers, our volunteers and ordinary citizens have all played a part in making this country what it is today.”
Anderson, who retired as the city’s police chief in July, was speaking during the school’s 47th-annual Honor America Assembly. Organized by members of the school’s Key Club, the event brings together students, administrators, faculty, public officials and first responders to celebrate America.
“It’s important to put your community over yourself,” said Ross Ivkovich, the Key Club’s adviser. “It’s important to introduce that to these young folks every year and get ingrained in them that service is such an important thing.”
Framing his talk around the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Anderson, who served with the city’s police department for 33 years, said that service and sacrifice could be seen that day.
“Police officers, firefighters, paramedics and many others ran toward the danger,” he said while talking about the first responders at the World Trade Center, where firefighters were climbing flight after flight of stairs in their turnout gear.
“They moved upward toward smoke, heat, darkness and chaos, while thousands were desperately trying to make their way down the stairs. They understood the danger. They knew they might never come back, but they continued to climb. Nearly 3,000 innocent people lost their lives that day -- and more than 340 firefighters, along with dozens of police officers and other first responders.
“They weren’t thinking about themselves or the danger they were facing,” he continued. “They were thinking about the people who needed help. They were ordinary people who made an extraordinary commitment to others.”
He cited the crew and passengers of United Flight 93 who fought back against the hijackers of their plane and lost their lives when the airliner crashed in Shanksville, Pa. Their actions likely prevented the hijackers from flying the plane into the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Anderson also remembered those in the Pentagon the first responders at the Pentagon that day.
“Being a first responder requires more than physical strength,” Anderson added. “It takes character, compassion, patience and the ability to make decisions in a matter of seconds.
“For first responders, the greatest fear is not the act of laying down their life in service to our community,” Anderson said. “Their greatest fear is never being able to see their families again, of never being able to see their children grow up, not being able to grow old with their spouse, never being able to say I love you just one more time to the people who made their world.”
There are countless people in the community who have dedicated their lives to serving others, including doctors, nurses, medical professionals, church leaders, volunteers and many others, he added.
“Sometimes service is as simple as noticing someone is sitting alone at lunch and inviting them to join you,” Anderson said. “It might be someone who is being bullied or helping a friend through a difficult time. We’re simply treating someone with kindness and respect. You never know what someone else is going through.”
By helping others, Anderson said, a person also will be honoring everyone in their life who invested time in them, encouraged them and believed in them.
“Always remember that true success is not measured by what you gave to yourself, but rather what you gave to others,” Anderson said. “Wherever life takes you, whatever career you choose, never lose sight of helping others. Make a difference. Make your family proud. Make your school proud. Make your community proud. Always remember that one of the greatest ways you can honor America is by living a life of putting service about self.”
Before he began speaking, Anderson asked for a moment of silence to remember Ryan Milligan, a firefighter in the Cleveland suburb of North Royalton who lost his life in the line of duty on Monday. A 10-year veteran, he was 36 years old and leaves behind a wife and two children. Also recognized during the presentation were the winners of the high school and middle school essay contests. The essays of Brynn Bowers and Ti’yonna Estes were built around the anniversary of Sept. 11 and both read their works.
“At a time when the world seems so divided, it is important to know that even the littlest action can make a major impact on those around us,” Bowers, the winner of the high school competition, said as part of her essay, “We Will Never Forget.”
“The U.S. sticks together no matter what is thrown at us. This day will forever remain in the hearts of United States citizens, and it should remain in yours, too,” said Estes, the winner of the middle school competition.
“Always Remember” was the theme of the 40-minute assembly, which included performances by the school’s marching band.
The school’s Key Club has been serving the community for 77 years, Ivkovich explained. During that time, he added, the organization has had just three other advisers: Bill Croskey, John Georgiafandis and Joe Biasi.