They weren’t even born, but La Grange-area Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts are well aware of the terrorist attacks that happened on Sept. 11, 2001.
Determined to make sure no one forgets, they staged a tribute to the victims in Memorial Park in La Grange Park.
“It was one of the darkest days in our history,” Sean Parkes, a Scout from Troop 33 and freshman at Nazareth Academy, told about 150 people gathered near the Veteran’s Memorial. “We should never forget.”
Represented at the tribute were Boy Scout Troops 33 and 111 and Cub Scout Pack 39.
The event opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a group of the Scouts presenting the Colors.
A prayer of remembrance was offered by Sofia Magajne (Troop 33), and Liam McKeown (Troop 33) gave a brief synopsis of the terrorist attack.
Joining Parkes in offering remembrances were Lucas Olson (Troop 11), and Renee Clarke (Leader of Pack 39).
Parkes spoke not only of the togetherness that the attack fostered among Americans, but of the reaction of many of our allies, noting the French newspaper’s headline, “Today, we are all Americans.”
He challenged everyone to reflectthe importance of the day.
“We must all ask ourselves the question,” Parkes said, “‘what does 9-11 mean to me.’ For me it’s that we should be ever grateful to the heroes that sacrificed that day, whether they were residents or first responders. They were the ones that took the initiative.”
Renee Clarke spoke of being in Manhattan the day of the attack.
“There were about 10,000 people gathering in complete silence walking out of Manhattan into Queens,” she told the audience.
“The only people asking into Manhattan were the service people and the first responders. We should thank those who walked toward danger, not away from it.”
The event closed with Michael Magajne (Troop 33) playing taps.
In addition to the Scouts, also present were first responders from La Grange Park in the form of police and firefighters.
The event was an initiative of the Community Park District of La Grange Park, and several officials were on hand to pay tribute.
“Last year we did a flag ceremony,” Amanda Kennedy, Park District Financing and Marketing Coordinator, said. “And because of the response and the people that showed up, we decided to do it again.”
Kennedy vowed to make the event permanent.
“We want to make it an annual thing,” she said. “We don’t want to ever forget what happened that day and we want to pass the tradition on to the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.”
As a former firefighter and paramedic, the day held special meaning for Park District Commissioner Peggy Ronovsky.
“It’s solemn day and I’m glad that people are not forgetting what happened,” she said.
The La Grange Park Board of Trustees were represented by Trustees Mike Sheehan, Karen Koncel, and Robert Lautner.
“We wanted to come out to support the troops, the first responders, and the Scouts,” Sheehan said.
The Scouts were organized by La Grange Park resident Marko Magajne, Scout Leader of Troop.
“We are aware of the people that made the ultimate sacrifice that day,” he said before the tribute. “And we’re aware that of how fortunate we are that we didn’t have to make that sacrifice.”
Magajne also spoke of the need for vigilance.
“We don’t want to repeat the mistakes that led to 9-11,” he said.
