Pope John Paul II junior honors brother and 911 fallen with patriotic tribute 

Royersford- The gridiron was draped in a blanket of sunshine, the crowd’s excitement was building to a fever pitch and with the newly erected scoreboard lit and ready boldly display the home squad’s scoring success.

All of the excitement at the Pope John Paul II Pac-10 season opener came to a screeching halt, as every American’s life did on 911, as a solemn ceremony took place just before kick off to honor the fallen men, women and children that perished the one September mornings, ten years ago along with the men and women in our armed services that fight to defend the freedom that as Americans we so often take for granted.

The moment of silence shared by the hundreds in attendance had a special meaning for one person in particular on the sidelines, Pope John Paul II junior G.P. Harmansky who was concluding his pre game duties as the Golden Panthers manager, paused along with every one else, but did so with a heavy heart as Hamansky’s brother Peter is currently deployed in Iraq.

 To honor the fallen of 911 and his brother, Harmansky had on his own volition, organized a special tribute by displaying more than 500 American flags through out the campus of Pope John Paul II, as the entrance from the road and football field were adorned with the red, white and blue.

“The tenth anniversary of 911 and all of those people that lost family members was weighing on my mind,” said Harmansky. “I wanted to do something to honor my brother as I miss so much and can’t even know where he actually is over there due to security.”

Harmansky and his family purchased the flag from Metropolitan Flag Company them selves and thanks to the help from volunteers Mike Kuklinski and Megan Gittings, Harmansky was able to get the patriotic display set in about an hour of set up time.

“I wanted to erect a flag pole,” added Harmansky by it against diocesen rules, so the individual flags were what I could do. Peter was supposed to be in Bahrain but we got information letting us know he wasn’t there but they could not disclose where he is.”

Harmansky loves what he does for the football team, as he help them prepare for battle each week and has contributed since his freshman year at Kennedy-Kenrick, where he was approached athletic director Jack Flanagan, who was one of the biggest supporters of his 911 tribute, along with his parents Jackie and George Haramnsky.

“Coach Flanagan has been awesome, he introduced me to all of the coaches last year when the school opened”, said Harmansky the Norristown native. “I couldn’t be happier, I love helping the team and I get to drove the cart which is pretty cool.”

On a weekend where as a nation, we may take time to think about what was lost by so many families on the day our world stood still and the towers fell, the 16-year old Harmansky wishes every day for something not knowing if he will ever have the opportunity to do.

“I wish I could just talk to him,” said Harmansky. “On the phone, a twenty-minute Skype, just to get to say hello to him and ask him how he is would mean all of the world. The hardest thing is that I can’t even talk to my brother. I feel so sad for anyone who lost family members on 911 and I hope they are getting through it ok.”

 Commentary-On September 11, 2001 we were made aware as a county just how fragile our existence is and how fortunate we are to have gift of life every day. Hopefully we as a people, take time ever day to appreciate what we have and strive to make a positive impact in a world. May god bless the friends and families of those we lost in New York, Washington and Schenksville on that horrible day.