~WELCOME~
~~VANESSA'S
HONORS~
VANESSA
DRAPER LIBRARY FOR CHILDREN DEDICATION
THE
FOLLOWING IS THE TRANSLATION OF L'Dor V'Dor
THIS
WAS SUNG AT THE DEDICATION CEREMONY.
From
time to time, from time to time
Her
time was ours to keep and treasure.
From
time to time, from time to time,
Through
all the pain and all the pleasure
Tell
our children of her past and her memory last.
Her
bright star will light our way,
Her
name is always in our heart,
Like
our faith it will never part,
And
we'll look up to her every day.
Vanessa
taught me to believe anything is possible.
Prior
to Friday this flower never won in the East.
Everyone
seemed to achieve more when she was with them.
This
ribbon is for her for I know she was with me.
T.C.
Seneca
was proud to induct 60 students into the Pride of Seneca
Chapter
of the National Junior Honor Society on January 27.
They
were inducted into the Honor Society on the basis of
citizenship,
scholarship,
leadership,
character
and
community
service.
One
student who met these requirements was Vanessa Draper.
Vanessa
has passed on although her spirit still lives on throughout
the
community.
She
has given sight to someone who can't see.
There
is a sportsmanship award for a young deserving athlete
in
the school in her honor.
The
community is donating a sports field in the
Holbrook
Country Club in her memory.
Even
though she is no longer with us,
we
will remember Vanessa as a
scholar,
athlete
and
a loving and caring person.
~A
Special Farewell~
When each new
life begins
It is automatically
presumed
That longevity
is in the wind
With the special
promise of time
To live, to
grow, to enjoy, to win,
To learn,
to teach, to succeed, to leave behind
A legacy of
the heart and mind.
Vanessa, we
miss you and always will;
But the gift
of the heart and mind you leave behind
Will be ours
to hold onto and reach for
As you, a
star and sun in our lives watch over us
And guide
us from afar.
From all your
classmates, teachers and friends
at Seneca
Junior High
The
following was written by one of Vanessa's teachers:
On
December 22, my wife and I became grandparents for the first time.
It is a wondrous experience. It was, is, a time of joy, a time of
celebration. Then on December 31, we received the horrific news of
the tragic death of one of our students, Vanessa Draper. Unbridled
joy was imbued with a deep sense of loss for this beautiful young lady.
The
loss of this child, filled with immense potential, diminishes my classroom,
my school, and the district. Vanessa was a person of unimaginable
charm, wit, and intelligence. She was one of those persons who had
it all together, even at her young age. She was someone you knew,
just knew, would be whatever she willed herself to be. She was a
fine athlete, a gifted and driven scholar, and a true member of the Holbrook
community, dedicated to enabling handicapped students get as much joy as
possible through competition in a challenge softball league.
Tamarac
and Seneca enjoyed the gift of Vanessa's spirit. It is truly lamentable
that Sachem South and Sachem North never will know the warmth of Vanessa's
smile, her vitality, her sense of humor, her joy of living and her joy
of giving..... Persepctive....Teilhard de Chardin wrote, "We are one; after
all, you and I, together we suffer, together exist, and forever will recreate
each other."...And that is why you are sans egal, baby...pmc...30.
To
the Editor:
If
you love someone you will be loyal to them no matter what the cost.
You will always believe in them, always expect the best of them.
That
was how Vanessa Draper treated the children of the Holbrook (should have
read Ronkonkoma) Softball league for the Physically Challenged. Vanessa
was the 14-year-old who, along with her 7-year-old cousin, died suddenly
when hit by a car while walking down Lakeland Avenue in Sayville on December
31, 1997.
She
was a bright and beautiful girl who faithfully came out every Sunday for
three months out of the year to help make the lives of physically and mentally
disabled children more fulfilling.
Vanessa
was their helper and their friend. She taught them to catch the ball,
not just let it roll by. Without her gently explaining some children
would continue to sit on the bench, unaware that it was their turn to go
back on the field. If Vanessa didn't advise them of who was up next,
they all would have thought they were up next. She would always remind
them they needed to wear a hard hat in order to be up to hit the ball.
She would get the special baseball stand and place the baseball on top,
put the bat in their hands and tried to help them hit the ball for those
who couldn't hit a ball for themselves. Vanessa was always there
to give a helping hand, helping those get around the bases who were unable
to run by themselves.
Many
helpers came and went, but unlike others her age who would rather be hanging
out with their friends, she gave her time to be with our children.
The
children on this team ranged in age from 12 to 21. Vanessa was usually
the smallest member but had the biggest heart. Vanessa Draper did
more in her short time than most accomplish in their long lives.
Thank you, Vanessa, for giving so much of your precious short time.
We all loved you and will miss you.
Ellen
Rufola
Appreciative
Parent
~I
WILL REMEMBER YOU~
~Sarah
McLachlan~
~VANESSA'S
PHOTO GALLERY~
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PAGE UPDATED
~ 07/03/05
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