FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE05-26
May
18, 2005
Contact:
Natalie Millner
(718) 595-6600
New
York City Department of Environmental Protection and Students
From M.S. 181 in Co-Op City Dedicate Garden of Heroes Memorial
for Fallen Community Members
DATE/TIME: |
Thursday, May 19 at 10:00 am |
PLACE: |
GARDEN OF HEROES ,
located at 800 Baychester Avenue Bronx , New York
School phone number (718) 904 5600
West side of school building between parking
lot and school |
PARTICIPANTS: |
Stephen Bennett, Principal, MS 181
Roy Rappelfeld, Speech and Language Therapist, Advisor
to M.S. 181 Student Government, Service League, Student
Council, and Honor Society
Members of DEP Office of Environmental Planning and Assessment,
Ecological Services Department. |
EVENT: |
Memorial in honor of Christian Engeldrum a local hero
who died in Iraq; Remembrance of Christian Regenhard killed
on September 11, 2001 |
Since the bombing of the Oklahoma Federal Building, the student
body of M.S. 181 has been deeply concerned with the consequences
of terrorist activities that have touched members of its student
body. On September 11, a former MS 181 student, Christopher Regenhart,
a rookie fireman, was killed in the attack on the World Trade Center,
and at that time the student government cleared a spot and planted
a tree in his memory. In November 2004 a popular Co-Op City Firefighter,
Christian Engeldrum, who had been a sergeant to one of MS 181’s
teachers in his squad lost his life fighting in Iraq. A majority
of MS 181’s students live in Co-Op City and Mr. Engeldrum
was a popular member of the community.
Wishing to continue the tradition of honoring MS181 students
and their families who had suffered losses, the student body submitted
a SCAF grant request. (SCAF) awarded the School $475 to help with
the planting of a Garden of
Heroes. MS181 contacted DEP’s Office of Environmental
Planning. The agency was pleased to help. On Thursday, May 12,
DEP assisted as the students planted two new juniper trees, one
to replace the tree originally planted in memory of Christian Regenhart
that had been lost to school construction and a new Juniper tree
in memory of Christian Engeldrum as well as well as a variety of
shrubs for the garden. Students weeded and prepared the Garden
of Heroes in order for DEP to help them plant on May 12 and to
prepare for the May 19 th dedication ceremony of the Garden of
Heroes.
Refreshments will be served at 9:30 a.m. before the Ceremony.