Community is Invited to RCS’ Patriots Chapel 2024
Mrs. Magee's 3rd Grade Class visits with Hayward Police Dept Canine Unit at 2023 event.
All veteran and active Military and First Responders are invited to be honored at Redwood Christian Schools 2024 Patriots Chapel on Friday, September 13, beginning at 9:10am. Uniforms are encouraged. The school is located at 19300 Redwood Road, Castro Valley. Parking is behind the school. Enter off James Avenue.
The chapels are always well received by First Responders and military. The students visit and speak with the honored guests enduring that they know they are valued for their service. Watching these local heroes respond to the admiration of the students is so heart-warming. First Responders are never in a rush to leave (unless called to serve, of course!).
The Entire Community is Invited to Redwood Christian Schools’ Patriots Chapel 2024.
Redwood Christian Schools Superintendent Al Hearne is committed to never allowing First Responders and Military to be forgotten, and that “Remembering Our Heroes”is more than a phrase. Dr. Hearne stresses that we “must remember the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our Great Country. 9-11 changed all of our lives forever. Remembering and recognizing the sacrifice First Responders and their families paid on 9-11, in addition to those lives lost since then, are critical for people of all ages.” 2024 is the 23rd Anniversary of 9-11.
Mrs. Lynn Conley’s and Mrs. Laura Vanegas' third grade classes will lead the student body, their parents and guests in honoring not only our military and those who gave their lives on September 11, 2001, but also First Responders, who risk their lives daily. Mrs. Conley’s brother, Will Seuis, died while on duty serving as an Oakland Police Officer in 2004. Officer Seuis graduated from Redwood Christian High School in 1984.
Students at Redwood Christian Schools are taught to honor First Responders (law enforcement, fire and EMTs) as well as those who serve or have served in our Armed Forces. This is not taught passively, but with the purpose to ensure that our students remember that their lives are safer due to the sacrifices of those who serve us.
The program will begin with the color guard from the Castro Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars presenting the flags. Students will lead the Pledge to the American Flag, the Christian Flag and the Pledge to the Bible. A student will all open with a prayer for those present and not present who are serving all of us. Mrs. Conley will lead all present in singing our National Anthem. The poem “Take A Moment” by Joanna Fuchs will be recited by the third grade classes, bringing our focus onto everyone who has and is protecting each of us. “Thank You for Your Service" composed by RCS Music Teacher Beverly Mayne will be sung showing our continued appreciation for those who protect and serve us. Mrs. Conley will also read a proclamation from President Biden.
Regular attendees include law enforcement officers from the Oakland Police Department (where Mrs. Conley’s brother Will served), the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Alameda County Fire Department, and the Hayward Police Department. All agencies will be recognized for their dedication and service to our community.
Mrs. Conley will remind all present why it was so important to always remember those who sacrificed their lives for us, as well as those who serve us today.
Local Heroes will be honored by readings by students honoring the Military, Police Officers, and Firefighters. Mrs. Conley will lead everyone present singing God Bless America.
The 2024 Patriots Day Assembly will be closed by Dr. Al Hearne, Superintendent of Redwood Christian Schools. He consistently reminds the students to “look around at all our first responders we are honoring today. They do what they do because they want to help make the world a better place.” He encourages the students to “go up to them and thank them for helping to keep them safe.” He will ask all First Responders to stand and then have the students stand and face them and will state “These are the men and women who work to keep us safe. They are your friends. If you are ever afraid or need help, you can depend upon them to help you.” Superintendent Hearne will close the chapel praying for all First Responders and those who serve us in the military.
After the chapel, the Honorees – veterans and those currently serving in our Military as well as First Responders – will be invited to remain and visit with the students in the parking lot. Students are always excited to sit on Oakland Police Department motorcycles, sit in Alameda County Sheriff vehicles, the CHP car and talk on the speaker and turn on the lights! And a Hayward Police Department Canine Unit has been present with the officer’s dog able to open its door on command! The Hayward Police Department also has provided badges for the students. All of the First Responders posed for as many pictures as the students wanted with their new found heroes. And everyone admires the fire engines from the Alameda County Fire Department!
Superintendent Hearne stated that the leadership of Redwood Christian Schools looks for every opportunity to “instill a ‘Spirit of Patriotism’ (one of the Schools’ Founding Core Values) by fostering a Love for our Great Country, remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in the Greatest Country on Earth, as well as those who serve us every day as our First Responders.”
Redwood Christian Elementary Principal Megan Sinisi stated “I am always so proud of our student body, faculty, and parent community for their involvement in this chapel, where the everyday hero is recognized and thanked. Through their songs, poems, gestures, words of appreciation, and prayer, our students will recognize the sacrifices made by our Military and First Responders. In an era where the world faces many challenges, the values of respect and honor are even more powerful. I believe the words and actions displayed at the upcoming chapel will speak volumes about the character of our school community.”
The entire community is invited to attend and honor these heroes.
