Princeton Christian Academy honors local law enforcement, first responders – Shaw Local
Colby Pollock, Kristopher Benson and Mia Bullington represent Princeton Christian Academy presenting a banner to the Princeton Police Department Friday morning: Chief Tom Kammerer (from left), Terry Polhemus, Sarah Rokey, Kyle Kinnaman (intern), Chris Erickson and Jamie Taylor with her service dog, June. (Kevin Hieronymus)
PRINCETON — Princeton Christian Academy has been honoring local law enforcement and first responders with a breakfast and program in the school gym each year for the past six years.
This year, because of COVID-19 concerns, the PCA students took their show of appreciation to them.
PCA’s K-8 students and teachers rode a bus from Green River Bus Line to the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, the Princeton Police Department/BuEComm and Princeton Fire Department to present banners to each group personally. Each student and teachers signed the banners and decorated them with hand prints.
They also came bearing gifts of meat and cheese trays, one for each shift.
“The whole school, K-8, is involved in this to not only show our appreciation to these heroes, but also to teach our students respect and gratitude for our community servants,” PCA Vice Principal/language arts teacher Marty Kiser said.
“The students love doing these things. They also loved preparing these banners this year, and they turned out beautifully.”
PCA Principal Tom Odell thanked the first responders at each stop and read scripture from Romans 13: 1-5, which explains: “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there are no authorities except that which God has established.”
He explained to the students while they may run from danger, “these men and women run towards it for our safety.”
To the members of the police department, Odell said, “We want you to know that we appreciate what you do, we respect what you do, we honor you and you are really heroes to us. We want you to know as a school that we pray for you all. We are grateful. We know God has placed you where you are.”
Covering the PCA kids stopping off at the Princeton Police Dept to say thanks for all they do. June, the police puppy, was a big hit with the kids. They also made stops at the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department. Look for my story in Saturday’s paper and online pic.twitter.com/3DbjBSGKH3
Police Chief Tom Kammerer is appreciative of PCA’s continued show of support.
“These guys have always been big supporters of us,” he said. “I’ve been here about three years now. Normally they have breakfast out there for us, where church members cook food, the kids sing songs and do a little program for us.
“It’s really important to have people supporting us like this, especially with everything that’s been going on in the last year. It feels really good. Our folks appreciated it a lot.”
When PCA held their presentation at the school, each class prepared a song or recitation to perform, the elementary choir sang and the junior high choir sang, Kiser said.
June, the service dog for the Princeton Police Department, was a big hit with the kids from Princeton Christian Academy Friday. (Kevin Hieronymus)
Kevin has been sports editor of the BCR since 1986 and is Sports Editor of Putnam County Record. Was previously sports editor of the St. Louis Daily News and a regular contributor for the St. Louis Cardinals Magazine. He is a member of the IBCA and Illinois Valley Hall of Fames. He is one of 4 sportswriters from his tiny hometown Atlanta, IL