South Colonie Schools held a special ceremony May 19 honoring police, EMS and other first responders at the Hill of Heroes at Colonie Central High School.
The ceremony kicked off the 5th annual Raiderfest event sponsored by student group iCARE. The ceremony honored the close partnership the Colonie community has with first emergency responders and celebrated the contributions of our local heroes in ensuring the safety and well being of the community at large.
Guest speakers, in attendance, included Colonie Chief of Police Jonathan M. Teale, Board of Education President and retired Colonie Police officer Edward Sim, former Board of Education President and retired Colonie Police officer Brian Casey, Superintendent Jonathan Buhner, and Mikayla Anson, daughter of the late New York State Trooper Michael J. Anson.
Trooper Anson, a CCHS graduate like his daughter, served for 31 years at Troop G in Loudonville, and assisted victims of the Twin Towers terrorist attacks on 9-11. That eventually led to his death from lung cancer, his daughter said.
Mikayla Anson told the crowd, “You don’t have to be like my father to be a hero in this world. There are many things you can do to help people in your own community by simply following the values iCARE stands for … Integrity, Community, Accountability, Respect and Empathy.”
Following the ceremony, a new stone featuring two intertwined American flags was unveiled in remembrance of all first responders on the Hill of Heroes monument. iCARE also announced it is donating the first brick paver on the new Pathway of Heroes in honor of Trooper Anson for his special contributions to society. Brick pavers are on sale now for the Pathway of Heroes, which will be unveiled at Raiderfest 2019. Click here to learn more about how to buy a paver stone.