Monte Vista Rally Honors First Responders, Santa Cruz Sentinel

Parents and students will honor the nation’s first responders during a rally Sunday at Monte Vista Christian School. Originally designed to focus on the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the event now includes an emphasis on those who are helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

But the event was almost scrapped because of the Gulf Coast disaster. "A lot of people thought we should cancel because of Katrina," said Sharon Ince, parent coordinator for the event. "But we’re honoring Sept. 11 and people who aid us in times of crisis. It made sense to keep going with the rally because these are really the same people."

The rally starts at 2 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium with songs by the Monte Vista Christian School choir and prayers by the student chaplain. Speakers include a firefighter from the Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District and Peggy Pope, who is in the U.S. Department of State’s Weapons Removal Division.

One of the original motives for the event was to shine a light on the use of land mines across the globe. Marin County-based Roots of Peace was brought onboard to help.

The group’s founders, mother-daughter team Heidi and Kyleigh Kuhn, will present information Sunday about how students can help eradicate land mines. "I think this gives students a chance to take a step back and understand what is going on outside our borders," said Kyleigh, 18. "It’s an opportunity to extend out hands to others."

Kyleigh spearheaded a student-based initiative called Making Change Work, which students use to collect spare change throughout the school year. The money is donated to convert mine fields into safe schools and playgrounds in war-torn areas.

"Many nonprofit organizations have adults running them," Kyleigh said. "This is a student-to-student organization."

The event will be 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday at Monte Vista, 2 School Way. The public is invited.