Norristown Student Honored 9/11 Fallen with Tribute to Brother

By DAVE CONARD

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in the Norristown Patch on September 12, 2011.

The gridiron was draped in a blanket of sunshine and the crowd’s excitement was building to a fever pitch as the newly erected scoreboard boldly displayed the home squad’s scoring success.

All of the excitement at the Pope John Paul II Pac-10 season opener in Royersford came to a screeching halt, much like every American’s life did on 9/11, as a solemn ceremony took place just before kick off to honor the fallen men, women and children that perished ten years ago as well as the men and women in our armed services that fight to defend the freedom that we so often take for granted.

The moment of silence shared by those in attendance had a special meaning for one person in particular on the sidelines – PJP II junior and Norristown native G.P. Harmansky, who was concluding his pre-game duties as the Golden Panthers’ manager. Harmansky paused along with every one else, but did so with a heavy heart. His brother Peter is currently deployed in Iraq.

To honor his brother the fallen of 9/11, Harmansky had organized a special tribute displaying more than 500 American flags throughout 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 10th anniversary of 9/11 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 flags from Metropolitan Flag Company themselves and thanks to the help from volunteers Mike Kuklinski and Megan Gittings, Harmansky was able to get the patriotic display set up in about an hour.

“I wanted to erect a flag pole,” added Harmansky, “but it was against dioscesan 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, helping them prepare for battle each week, and has contributed since his freshman year at Kennedy-Kenrick when he was approached athletic director Jack Flanagan, one of the biggest supporters of his 9/11 tribute.

“Coach Flanagan has been awesome,” said Harmansky. “He introduced me to all of the coaches last year when the school opened. I couldn’t be happier. I love helping the team and I get to drive 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 one thing.

“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 9/11 and I hope they are getting through it OK.”

On September 11, 2001, we learned 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 every day to appreciate what we have and strive to make a positive impact in the world.

May god bless the friends and families of those we lost in New York, Washington and Schenksville on that horrible day.