First Responders Recognized for Their Commitment to Service
MIDDLE COUNTRY SCHOOLS, NEW YORK (SEPTEMBER 2026) — Oxhead Road Elementary School, part of the Middle Country Central School District, hosted a 9/11 Hero Garden dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 11. The Hero Garden serves as a lasting tribute to the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and to the brave firefighters, police officers, and first responders who continue to protect and serve our communities each day.
Oxhead Road students and staff were joined by Schools Superintendent Dr. Roberta Gerold, Board of Education trustees, local elected officials, and first responders, who were recognized for their dedication and service to the community. The school community worked together over the past few months to build the living space as a special tribute to our heroes’ courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to our local and regional communities. The garden features a Unity Tree, a path of inspiring hand-painted stones, and a place for reflection.
Oxhead Road Elementary School Principal Dr. Phyllis Saltz offered opening remarks and a moment of silence before students recited poems and an essay they had prepared for the occasion. Fifth grade students sang “God Bless America,” led by music teacher Mrs. Rebecca Ferdman, ahead of sharing light refreshments in the STEM lab.
“The Hero Garden dedication ceremony was a meaningful opportunity for our school community to come together to honor our local heroes, recognize the dedication of our first responders, and remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001,” Dr. Saltz said. “This special tribute will serve as a lasting reminder of the courage, compassion, and selflessness that continue to inspire our community.”
For more information regarding the Middle Country Central School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the District’s website: https://www.mccsd.net/.