Wildwood Catholic graduate honored at 9/11 service

Photo by Alan M. Dumoff

Wildwood Catholic High School, Cape Trinity Catholic, and school staff gather on the ellipse at their school on Friday, Sept. 10, to remember those who lost their lives, and those who responded to the attack, on Sept. 11, 2001.

WILDWOOD — On the eve of the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Flight 93, the school communities of Wildwood Catholic and Cape Trinity Catholic Regional came together here on the lawn of the school building they share, to remember those who lost their lives, including one of the community’s own; and those who worked to save other lives that day.

With the American flag at half-mast, and 350-plus students, school personnel, and community members standing solemnly, a prayer service recalled the firefighters, police officers, office-workers, military personnel, bystanders, and maintenance personnel “who worked together so valiantly to help each other.”

“In a time filled with tragedy, we dare to hope for an era yet to come in which the slaughter of innocents, greed, the ambitions of power, and cultural, racial and religious bigotries are but memories of a dim and unenlightened past,” one of the Wildwood Catholic student readers spoke.

The service recognized Andrew Alameno, Wildwood Catholic class of 1982, who perished in the World Trade Center attack as an employee of Cantor Fitzgerald, an investment bank and brokerage business.

Concluding the service was Toni Ann Pugliese, who sang heartfelt renditions of “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless America” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

For the Wildwood Catholic and Cape Trinity School students, it was their first joint gathering; Cape Trinity elementary opened its doors for the first time this fall, sharing the building, including cafeteria, auditorium, and gymnasium space, with the high school students.

“It’s important for us as Americans to remember this most tragic incident, and, as a school, to remember Andrew Alameno, a member of our community,” remarked Ted Pugliese, dean of academics at Wildwood Catholic.