RHS Remembers 9/11

Using tape and a blue tarp, social studies chair Doug Darguzis and Principal Derek Kinder carefully wrapped the box, hoping to protect its contents for the next five years.

Inside the ordinary-looking plastic box are items collected and created by Social Studies Club members in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The items are symbols of what 9/11 means to students — many of whom were too young to remember that day.

Before the capsule was sealed, students gave commemorative plaques to representatives of the Romeoville police and fire departments, and junior Camille Depluzer, 16, sang “I’ll Always Remember,” a song written about the day America was attacked.

Then, one by one, students, staff and local police and firefighters, including Romeoville Police Chief Mark Turvey, took turns dumping shovels full of dirt as the time capsule was buried.

Inside the box:

• A hat
• A Romeoville Police patch worn on the sleeve of the uniform
• A commemorative medallion given to Romeoville Police during the grand opening of the new Village Hall
• A helmet and photos
• A banner titled “Ten Years Later,” created and signed by RHS students
• A DVD of teacher interviews, in which staffers discuss what they remember about 9/11
• The front page of the newspaper from Sept. 11, 2001
• The front page of the newspaper from Sept. 11, 2011
• A portfolio of student reflections on the impact of Sept. 11
• A Sept. 11 sketch done by art students at RHS

Det. Kelley Henson, the school resource officer, added two more contributions on Monday, courtesy of her colleague, Cmdr. John Ferdinardo.

Henson said Ferdinardo opened up his personal scrapbook to the school from a trip he made to New York City in January 2002.

Ferdinardo was among the many police and firemen from across the country who helped with recovery and cleanup efforts in the months after 9/11.

One photo he contributed depicts Ground Zero with two ambulances standing by, as workers faced the grim task of recovering bodies and, in most cases, body parts.

“Anytime they found the remains of a policeman or firefighter, they would stop everything, and they would do a police and fire escort from Ground Zero to the morgue,” Henson said.

The photos joined the other items collected by students inside the time capsule. Darguzis said the box will be unearthed and more items will be added on the 15th anniversary of 9/11.