Patriot Day - A Day of Remembrance

Eleven years ago, wolves attacked our sheep in the World Trade Center Twin Towers, our sheepdogs in the Pentagon, and on Flight 93, sheep became sheepdogs as several rose to the challenge and attacked the terrorists, bringing their plane down near Shanksville, PA.



 This blog is dedicated to those who protect others, especially children, and today is a special day for all Sheepdogs.  Many gave the ultimate sacrifice that day.

Rick Rescorla was the Ultimate Sheepdog.  He was a highly decorated soldier of two armies, and was serving as the Vice President of Security for Morgan-Stanley/Dean-Witter, the largest tenant in the World Trade Center.  He doggedly drilled his people in evacuating the WTC, and on that fateful day, sang Welsh battle songs and guided his people to safety.   Following the Infantry Creed of 'Leave No Man Behind', he and three others went back up the Tower to make sure no one was left behind.  The Tower come down on them, killing them.

Then there was Flight 93.  Mark Bingham was a rugby player, he’s 6'5.  A big, physically fit guy.  Then there was Jeremy Glick, who was another six-footer. When he was in college, he was the national collegiate junior judo championship.  Lou Nacke was a weightlifter: at 5’9, he was 200 lbs. of muscle and had a Superman tattoo on his shoulder.  Japanese student Toshiya Kuge played American football; he was a linebacker.  Richard Guadagno, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manager, was trained in hand-to-hand combat.  Flight attendant CeeCee Lyles was a former cop.  Todd Beamer, as it was ready to happen said, ‘You ready?  Ok.  Let’s roll.’

As Jane Pauley writes, "In other words, Flight 93 could very well have gotten to Washington, to the U.S. Capitol, perhaps, or at the very least a well-populated area, if the passengers and crew hadn’t done what they did.

We will never know exactly which passengers and crew waged that counterattack, which ones reached the cockpit, and whether any of them could have stopped the plane from going down.

It doesn’t matter.

We do know that because of their collective courage, hundreds, maybe even thousands of lives were saved.   They were all of them real heroes; they’ll be remembered in many different ways."



How do we remember them?  We strive to make our lives worthy of their sacrifice.  We strive to be Sheepdogs, protecting others from the wolves in our lives.  We work to put the well-being of others ahead of our own, with our lives, if necessary.

On September 11, rededicate yourself to being a Sheepdog, and remember these brave Sheepdogs who went before us.

Live the motto, "Non in Meus Vigilo!"  (Not on my watch!)

Never forget.

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The Rick Rescorla School Safety Award

Back in February, I blogged about Doe Creek Middle School's Sheepdogs of the Month.  At the end of the school year, one of the Sheepdogs of the Month was selected as the first recipient of the Rick Rescorla School Safety Award.

Rick Rescorla’s picture was featured on the cover of the book “We Were Soldiers Once, And Young” by General Hal Moore and Rick Galloway. Rick served in the British Army, enlisted in the US Army, and fought in the Battle of Ia Drang, Vietnam. This battle, in which Rick was awarded the Silver Star, is chronicled in Moore’s and Galloway’s book. During the battle, Rick sang Cornish martial songs to keep up his troop’s morale.

After he retired from the Army, he became Vice President of Security for Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter, housed in the World Trade Center(WTC). He was there in 1993 for the first attack, and his actions, along with his foresight and preparation, saved the lives of 2,700 people. He pushed, cajoled, and wheedled employees to practice evacuations. When the building authorities gave safety directives that were not the best, he ignored them and continued to drill his employees, cheerfully ignoring their protests.

He was there in 2001, on the day when the twin towers were attacked in the manner he had predicted. When the building authorities told everyone to stay put, he once again used his cheerful, forceful personality to get the employees to disregard the bad instructions. The employees of Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter used the protocols he developed and relentlessly drilled into them to successfully evacuate the tower, all the while listening to his singing of Cornish martial songs.

All but six of Morgan Stanley's 2,700 WTC employees survived. Four of those six were Rescorla and three deputies who followed him back into the building; Wesley Mercer, Jorge Velazquez, and Godwin Forde. (Time Magazine, June 9, 2008).  Rescorla’s honor cost him his life, a cost he gladly paid. When told he needed to evacuate as well, he replied, "As soon as I make sure everyone else is out." Rick lived his life, and gave his life, with honor. He was a man I definitely consider to be an outstanding example for all sheepdogs.

I can think of no better man to represent the epitome of a sheepdog.  It was Rick's example that inspired me to create this program.  Our PTO provided funds for a plaque that would list the winners of each year.  The individual being honored also receives a personal plaque.

This year's winner is Ellen Krug.  Mrs. Krug was our choir teacher.  Her relationships with her students helped her intercede in numerous situations that might have led to violence.  It also led to a student trusting her enough to come to her with a rumor of a student who had run away from home.  Not succumbing to denial, Mrs. Krug brought the problem to me, and I contacted law enforcement.  They were able to locate her at her home.  Her parents did not know she was there, but were able to get to her at home and address the situation.

Her watchfulness over her charges extended to bus trips between Doe Creek and New Palestine High School.  She would be able to take over 80 students on these trips with no discipline issues, and always had complete accountability.  Not an easy task with middle school students.  She was also very conscientious about her safety responsibilities, often being the first to ask questions about a procedure.  

Ellen Krug exemplifies the spirit of Rick Rescorla, and represents the best of our Sheepdogs.  Mrs. Krug, thank you for helping to keep Doe Creek students safe and secure. 

Sheepdogs of the Month

Part of the job of a sheepdog in schools is to develop a climate in the school in which everyone has a part to play.  The staff and students of Doe Creek Middle School have come a long way toward that goal.  What I needed was a way to recognize those who went above and beyond to make our school a safer place.  Enter the Sheepdog of the Month program.

Each month I ask the teachers to nominate one of their own who best exhibits the traits of a sheepdog in schools.  Teachers who develop trusting relationships with their students, teachers who put themselves between harm and the students.  Teachers demonstrate true leadership with their peers and students.  After receiving nominations, I pick one who best represents the traits of the sheepdog.  I also ask the teachers to nominate a student who exhibits the same traits.

The teacher who is selected gets a certificate, signed by the Principal and myself, which gets presented to the teacher in front of their students.  They also receive a few "goodies" like 'Jeans cards', which allows them to wear blue jeans to school for one day.  They also get a 'Sheepdog' t-shirt, designed by Ranger Up: http://www.rangerup.com/police.html  The shirts are paid for by our PTO.

At the end of the year, each of our Sheepdogs of the Month are eligible to win the Rick Rescorla School Safety Award.  Rick Rescorla was a Vietnam War Silver Star recipient.  He was also Director of Security at Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter on 9/11.  He evacuated 2,700 people, and died after he and three others went back up to make sure everyone was out.  The winner will receive a small trophy, and their name will be inscribed on a plaque that will stay with the school.

Amber Connors was our first recipient.  She develops trusting relationships with her students.  When one came to her with the report of a possible shooting in the school, she did not engage in denial, but got the information to me immediately, and we were able to determine that it was just a rumor.

Danielle Daugherty was our second recipient.  She also develops trusting relationships, and also teaches them to be sheepdogs themselves.  Her relationships have resulted in numerous reports of bullying that she has sent my way.  Her leadership with her students is very apparent.

Amanda Schwyn was our third recipient.  She stepped into the middle of a fight between two girls, knowing that if she allowed it to continue, other students would get hurt.  She acted decisively, and with the interests of students foremost in her mind.

Shawn Rago was our fourth recipient.  She has also developed trusting relationships with students who tell her of bad things happening in our school.  She has provided me with several pieces of information that has allowed us to get drugs out of our school.

Ellen Krug is very conscientious about school safety, and about her children.  She heard a rumor that a student of hers had run away from home.  She contacted me, I contacted law enforcement, and we were able to quickly locate the student.  She was also very good about noticing bullying, and reporting it in a timely fashion.

Bryan Turner is a gym teacher.  The classes are of a nature that injuries happen. Mr. Turner remains calm, and quickly acts to get the injured student to the clinic. 

Karen Payne is a cafeteria monitor.  She came to me with information of one of her students who approached her with information of some problems at home.  We were able to address the issue, with Mrs. Payne following through to make sure it was taken care of.

Debra Kleyn is also a cafeteria monitor.  In her work, she frequently noticed building issues between students, and would notify the office for intervention.  In an environment full of noise, she heard the right things.

Ron Hayes is a custodian.  While walking through the cafeteria, he saw two students engaged in the "Choking Game".  One was pressing hard on the chest of the other to prevent them from breathing.  He stopped the two students, and took them to the office, where they were able to speak with counselors.

Deputy Chapman has a daughter at our school.  He volunteered at the end of each school day to stop traffic on the road outside of school, allowing the buses to quickly get on their way.  People trying to get ahead of the buses often endangered the children on the buses in their haste.

Officer Fisher served as security at many of our school dances.  He also interacts with many of the students in town, keeping them out of trouble, and providing a role model for them.

Who will be next?  We have many outstanding teachers to choose from.  Several students have been selected as well, receiving certificates, but as this is a middle school, and in the interests of internet safety, we do not publicly announce their names.

It is my hope to make this a corporation-wide affair, and to make the Rick Rescorla award the Community School Corporation of Southern Hancock County's way to honor those who protect our kids.