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Student’s memorial drawing criticism
By Rick Forgione
Saturday, April 23, 2005
A student-created memorial honoring Niagara Falls High School sophomore Anthony “Tony” Sheard is causing some stir in the community.
Sheard was shot and killed Wednesday night while allegedly trying to rob a pizza delivery man in the 1300 block of Pierce Ave. While police have linked him to gang activity in the past, friends, family and school officials remember a different side of Sheard.
Flowers litter the floor around Sheard’s locker located on the fourth floor of Niagara Falls High School. The locker is covered with photographs of Sheard, letters and posters. Messages include “Rest In Peace” and “We Love You.”
“Putting notes on his locker is how some of our students are dealing with the grieving process,” school Principal Mark Laurrie said.
Those acts of sympathy may not seem harmful, but some people are taking offense to the school allowing the memorial. Several people called the Niagara Gazette’s newsroom Friday to voice their displeasure.
“Is this how our great school district treats all of the city’s criminals?” said Rachael Douglas, a Falls resident who said she’s been robbed at knifepoint before. “I’m disgusted that the school is allowing him to be turned into some sort of martyr. They’re putting him on a pedestal for God sakes.”
Others criticized the district for flying the American flag at half-staff, even though they haven’t done so to honor any of the soldiers who have died in Iraq.
Laurrie said Friday afternoon that he’s also received calls from angry people regarding the memorial. He pointed out the students have the right to deal with the situation the best they can.
“We’re not building a monument or a shrine,” he said. “Despite what the circumstances are, we’re grieving a child’s death.”
By Rick Forgione
Saturday, April 23, 2005
A student-created memorial honoring Niagara Falls High School sophomore Anthony “Tony” Sheard is causing some stir in the community.
Sheard was shot and killed Wednesday night while allegedly trying to rob a pizza delivery man in the 1300 block of Pierce Ave. While police have linked him to gang activity in the past, friends, family and school officials remember a different side of Sheard.
Flowers litter the floor around Sheard’s locker located on the fourth floor of Niagara Falls High School. The locker is covered with photographs of Sheard, letters and posters. Messages include “Rest In Peace” and “We Love You.”
“Putting notes on his locker is how some of our students are dealing with the grieving process,” school Principal Mark Laurrie said.
Those acts of sympathy may not seem harmful, but some people are taking offense to the school allowing the memorial. Several people called the Niagara Gazette’s newsroom Friday to voice their displeasure.
“Is this how our great school district treats all of the city’s criminals?” said Rachael Douglas, a Falls resident who said she’s been robbed at knifepoint before. “I’m disgusted that the school is allowing him to be turned into some sort of martyr. They’re putting him on a pedestal for God sakes.”
Others criticized the district for flying the American flag at half-staff, even though they haven’t done so to honor any of the soldiers who have died in Iraq.
Laurrie said Friday afternoon that he’s also received calls from angry people regarding the memorial. He pointed out the students have the right to deal with the situation the best they can.
“We’re not building a monument or a shrine,” he said. “Despite what the circumstances are, we’re grieving a child’s death.”
......That heading should read NY , not NYC since it was in Niagara Falls NY
