Blue Point Elementary School Honors Fire Department

Students and faculty of awarded the Blue Point Fire Dept. a plaque commemorating its efforts in the community all year, and its honorable actions on Sept. 11, during a small ceremony last Friday.

John Selvaggio, the physical education teacher and member of the School Improvement Team committee, said he was looking for a way for the kids to be involved with the community.

“With the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaching, we felt it was a great opportunity to recognize all that our local heroes do,” he said.

In preparation for the tenth anniversary, the school organized a photo day on Flag Day last June. The mission? Create a giant American flag. Students from each class dressed in red and white and lined up to make up the stripes on the flag. Faculty members stood on a blue tarp, clad in white, to symbolize the stars.

The final picture was mounted on the plaque presented to the BPFD, along with the words, “In recognition to all those who have served, Past, Present and Future.”

Selvaggio said the students and faculty wanted to thank the BPFD for helping out at the school by hosting fire safety assemblies. They also select 12 winners from a fire safety poster contest each year and give winners a ride in the fire truck.

“Not to mention they put their lives at risk every day when called to work,” Selvaggio said.

Beverly Maler, the school’s art teacher, also paid tribute to her brother at the ceremony by reading a short poem. Alfred Maler, 39, from Patchogue, perished on the 104th floor of tower one when the World Trade Center collapsed on Sept. 11.

Selvaggio said though it was a time for the school to honor local heroes, it was also a time to remember those who passed in the tragic event.

“I feel the selflessness and heroism demonstrated on 9/11 by the thousands of people in NY and Washington along with the millions around the country is a true representation of what our great nation stands for,” he said.