Heroes memorialized in I.S. 259s September 11th mural
There was not a dry eye in the house at McKinley Junior High Schools September 11th Memorial dedication on the morning of Wednesday, May 16.
Students at the Fort Hamilton Parkway school, who were toddlers when the attacks took place, have been working on an elaborate mural on the third floor since the fall. The paintings portray the events of that tragic day in a moving way, including a rendition of three first responders carrying FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge, who was the first cited casualty of the day, from the tower in a way that is reminiscent of the Pietá. Students also stenciled the names of the 3,000 lives lost that day on the wall.
Supervised and spearheaded by literature teacher Thomas Buxton and art teacher Roma Karas, students worked on the mural after school and on Saturday mornings. They received helped from some alumna, who came to help paint. Lee Ielpi of the Tribute World Trade Center Visitor Center also helped with the planning.