People, Places and Things: 4-28-15

St. Mary’s community thanks Lynn Police for their service at dinnerSt. Mary’s students and staff showed their appreciation for the Lynn Police Department with a dinner at the school catered and donated by Brothers Deli. Desserts were provided by St. Mary’s families.Chief Kevin Coppinger led a contingent of 40 officers who attended, along with St. Mary’s students, staff and families. They were welcomed by Head of School Grace Cotter Regan. Students sat with police for dinner.St. Mary’s senior Patrick Morin Plante spoke and thanked the officers for their commitment to protecting the residents of Lynn and St. Mary’s. He thanked them for their bravery, daily heroism and altruistic spirit. He also shared that students wrote notes of appreciation to every officer. A large banner created for the occasion will hang at St. Mary’s, City Hall and the police station.Coppinger thanked the students and acknowledged St. Mary’s leadership and Rachel’s Challenge for their kindness in sponsoring the event. “It is not an easy time to be a cop,” he said, encouraging students to continue to appreciate their freedoms.Calling the event “meaningful and powerful,” Regan thanked the police officers for their service and acknowledged the St. Mary’s staff members who coordinated the event: Campus Minister Andrea Alberti, Lisa Morin Plante, Pat Gill, Bev Buckley, Principal Dr. Mark DiFabio and Dave Giarusso.