Classical ceremony honors first responders at Law Day

LYNN – Social studies/law teacher Lyle Henkenmeier said whenever he tells people that he teaches criminal law and forensics, they assume it’s on the college level.”People are amazed when I tell them I teach high school,” he said. “I don’t know another district that has a law program with the depth and breadth that we do.”The Classical High School teacher told his story before a packed auditorium Wednesday of students and staffers gathered for Law Day. Social Studies teacher Frank Grealish organized the school-wide assembly.”Law Day is the day we at Lynn Classical High School take the time to understand the importance of law in our society,” said Eric Rondeau, co-captain of the school’s Mock Trial Team.President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day in 1958 for exactly the reasons Rondeau stated.Rondeau called it unfortunate that not everyone believes it’s important to follow the law, and that can lead to events like April 15, 2013, the day of the Boston Marathon bombings.Nationally Law Day celebrates equality under the law, but Classical’s celebration focused largely on honoring first responders and the victims of the marathon bombings.”I’m wearing a Lynn Fire Department shirt in honor of first responders,” Henkenmeier said. “I think of first responders every day ? my son is a Lynn firefighter, my nephew is a Lynn firefighter and my brother-in-law is a retired firefighter.”Henkenmeier gave a brief history of the law program at Classical. What started out with two classes about five years ago has grown to include six classes, including a hands on forensic element that beginning next year will include a science lab component.School Committee member and attorney Charlie Gallo gave a short law lesson citing two education-based cases, Brown v. The Board of Education and McDuffy v. Massachusetts. One case dealt with diversity and the second with funding but Gallo said both prove while laws were established to provide a safe and functioning society, that also extends to education.Members of the Mock Trial team also honored Housing Court Judge David Kerman, who has been an assistant coach for the trial team for several years.”He gives so much of his time,” Grealish said. “Everything we ask of him he does ? and he comes to talent shows and proms. He has really taken us under his wing.”Senior Class President Shainna Cruel-Reynoso also praised School Security Officer Robert Ferrari. Cruel-Reynoso introduced a film clip narrated by a Lynn police officer who, along with several colleagues, attempts to take down a knife-wielding man.”The voice you heard was Officer Ferrari,” she said. “He is a longtime police officer who now protects us ? he is a hero though we don’t often see him that way.”Firefighter Matt Patterson, a Classical graduate who has become synonymous with heroism displayed during the marathon bombings, was honored as well, although he was called away at the last minute and could not attend the assembly.Instead Grealish showed a video clip of an interview Patterson did with CNN newsman Anderson Cooper. Not a sound nor a fidget was heard throughout the auditorium as Patterson explained how he saved the life of a little girl, Jane Richard, who had lost her leg in the blast and tried to save the life of her 8-year-old brother Martin, who died as a result of the bombing.The mood was lightened considerably when students Denyse Hairston and Jose “Jayel” Luna took the stage and sang “Irony” backed by a five-piece band. Senior Nurra Sun also surprised everyone, including himself, when he came out with his acoustic guitar and played Lee Greenwood’s “I’m Proud to be an American.””I didn’t really want to but (Grealish) called me out,” Sun said after his performance. “I was scared.”Classical Principal Gene Constantino called Law Day special to the city.”You will always remember April 15 like I remember Nov. 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was shot,” Constantino said. “You will always remember where you were and what you were