Bernard Middle Schoolers Honor County Police, Mehlville Firefighters on September 11

Seventh-grader Abbie Budt was only months old when two planes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. She didn't see the news reports, frantically call family members or join the country in uniting after the attacks. 

But the day is still meaningful to her. 

"I think it's a sad day, but it's important to try to turn it into something good," she said. 

That's exactly what the students did on Tuesday, the 11th anniversary of Sept. 11. The Student Council hosted a BBQ at the school for the St. Louis County Police, Mehlville firefighters, veterans and military personnel. 

More than 30 students served food in shifts and ate with the first responders. 

"It's good for kids to get to know the police on a different level," Student Council sponsor and social studies teacher Julie Dorsam said. 

Dorsam compared teaching kids about Sept. 11 to her generation learning about Pearl Harbor. 

"We've got to tell (the kids) what they're protecting and to respect the officers and firefighters," she said. 

Bernard Middle places special importance on the area's military and first responders. Every year, the school hosts a veterans' assembly that packs the house. 

"I think it's because we have many students who have family and fathers who are police and firefighters," Dorsam said. "We have teachers who have husbands who are in the military and we want to thank them."