Denver Catholic

6 I LOCAL NEWS NOVEMBER 13, 2013 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Students armed with gratitude honor vets' sacrifice COL. Alvie Willis right, speaks to eighth graders Michael Jones, left, and Alonzo Moon during the Veterans Day Service and brunch at Blessed Sacrament School and Church in Denver Nov. 11. BY NISSA LAPOINT War veteran Tom Ackerly drew an antique photo of young soldiers posed near a B-24 bomber to show a group of captivated eighth-graders from Blessed Sacrament School Nov. 11, Veterans Day. "It's such an amazing story. We went through hell and high-water," said Ackerly, 90, a retired Air Force officer who commanded an aircraft during World War II. He and his crew flew over Italy, Germany and other countries in the mid-1940s to battle enemy forces, he said. "America is worth fighting for," Ackerly told the students. "We love our country. We'd do it again." Students at the Denver school listened to the service men and women share stories of bravery and the meaning of service before asking questions about war and combat. "I thought they were brave to go serve," said eighth-grader Alonzo Moon. Across the country, Americans gave tribute to military men and women for their service with parades, wreath ceremonies, dedications and song. Over the weekend, supporters swarmed PHOTO BY ROBERT LINN FOR THE DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Denver's downtown to watch a line of troops, cars and floats for the city's annual parade and daylong series of activities. Blessed Sacrament students and teachers honored service men past and present with a Mass celebrated by Father Chris Hellstrom and a musical program and reception afterward. Younger students in the Boy Scouts presented flags and the entire school body waved small American flags to the sound of the "The Star-Spangled Banner." Uniformed veterans sat in the front row of the church to listen to seventh-graders sing patriotic tunes, including "Tribute to the Armed Forces" and "Thank You, Soldiers." "It fills me with joy that they're learning how to show gratitude," said Sylvia Wilms, 86, a retired Air Force nurse who served in the 1950s. Retired Maj. Dennis Shary, 66, who spent 26 years rising through the ranks of the Navy, Air Force and ROTC, said students' recognition for his service is meaningful. "It makes you feel so proud to get that recognition," he said during the reception. "It made me feel good about what I did and accomplished. I'd do it again." School principal Greg Kruthaupt began the annual tradition of honoring veterans at the school once he experienced gratitude for his service as a Marine in the Vietnam War. "It was so powerful," he said about the first time he was thanked. "It's something that everyone appreciates." After Mass, Col. Michael Willis, 47, of the Colorado National Guard spoke to the students about the meaning of service and how all are called to serve in some way. "All people are made in God's image and therefore all people are worthy to serve," he said. "We're all called to use our gifts to serve others. That's how we put our faith into action." While not all are called to serve their country through the military, everyone can serve in small ways, he said. "We're called to serve every day. It's the little things that matter," said Willis, who's served for nearly 25 years in the military. Later Willis said spending time with the students "is the most rewarding thing I can do." "We need them more than they need us." Gala benefits Catholic education Bells will be ringing PHOTO BY JAMES BACA PROVIDED COURTESY SEEDS OF HOPE PHOTO BY ROBERT LINN FOR THE DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER THE SEEDS of Hope Charitable Trust hosted its annual Evening of Hope benefit gala Nov. 1 at the Denver Marriott City Center celebrating All Saints' Day with the theme "Ancient Italian Elegance." Keynote speaker, America's Top Model turned role model, Leah Darrow, inspired attendees with her message of the importance of Catholic education as a foundation of Catholic formation. Archbishop Samuel Aquila delivered the invocation. The event included an opera a capella performance by Teresa Castillo, songs by the Guardian Angels School choir, moving addresses by a current Seeds of Hope student scholar and an alumna now teaching at an inner-city school Catholic school, a spirited live auction and remarks by Natalie Mesko, SOH executive director, and Brent Osland, board chair. Former CBS4 anchor Molly Hughes guided the evening as mistress of ceremonies. The mission of Seeds of Hope is to make Catholic education available to economically disadvantaged children through tuition assistance grants, scholarships, vouchers, operating support, and grants for programs and technology. Seeds of Hope supports primarily Catholic elementary schools serving low-income, high-minority populations concentrated in the inner city of Denver. Above: Seeds of Hope guests and organizers, from left, Leah Darrow, John Priester, Rosemary Priester, Archbishop Aquila, Gina Osland, Brent Osland and Natalie Mesko. AS THE WOODEN frame is replaced with a steel structure, bells and their strikers rest on the floor in the east spire of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver Nov. 8. replaced with new steel supports. This BY JULIE FILBY week, a crane will lift the steel compoFor the last couple of years, the bells nents into the 210-foot east bell spire at Denver's "mother Church," the Ca- to be assembled inside the tower. Each thedral Basilica of the Immaculate Con- of the 15 bells in the spire, required to ception, have been silent. Since May, the be taken from its frame during the projArchdiocese of Denver has been working ect, as shown in the Nov. 8 photo, has its toward the restorations necessary to get own name and is cast with an associatthem ringing again. Last week, gener- ed poem or prayer. The project will also al contractor, Haselden Construction, include the addition of a Carillon MasLLC—in coordination with The Verdin ter Control system allowing the bells to Company, a family-owned business out be controlled remotely by a keyboard. of Cincinnati, Ohio and specialist in Work is expected to be completed withbells since 1842—began restoring the in the next two weeks, hopefully before bells' original 1911 wooden structure Thanksgiving, according to Mary Ellen that has deteriorated with age. It will be Lederman, parish administrator.

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