MARGATE FIRE DEPARTMENT / INSIGHTS INTO 9/11

ON JUNE 29, 2006 THE STUDENTS OF THE DEAN'S ACADEMY GOT THE CHANCE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 9/11 TRAGEDY WHEN MARGATE FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC MICHAEL O'NEIL CAME BY THE MARGATE LIBRARY WITH HIS FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THAT TERRIBLE DAY. FIREFIGHTER O'NEIL WAS A MEMBER OF A TEAM THAT RESPONDED TO GROUND ZERO THE DAY AFTER THE TRAGEDY. HE SHOWED THE STUDENTS VIDEO AND PICTURES HE TOOK HIMSELF OF THE CARNAGE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE STUDENTS WILL NEVER EVER FORGET THOSE IMAGES. AFTER THE LECTURE THE STUDENTS THEN GOT THE CHANCE TO TOUR THE MARGATE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MEET CHIEF RICK DONAHUE. THEY EVEN ALLOWED THE STUDENTS TO TRY ON THEIR GEAR AND SIT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT OF ONE OF THE FIRE TRUCKS. MR. O'NEIL TOLD ME THAT IN THE 14 YEARS THAT HE'S BEEN A FIREFIGHTER HE HAS TAUGHT MANY CLASSES AND GIVEN MANY LECTURES AND IN THAT TIME HE'S NEVER COME ACROSS BETTER BEHAVED STUDENTS THAN THE ONE'S IN THE DEANS' ACADEMY. IT MAKES ME PROUD TO HEAR THAT!!