Good Morning, Mr. President

By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/22/03)

Eight Hispanic children from St. Rita School in Alexandria were chosen to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at Nueva Esperanza’s second annual Prayer Breakfast last Thursday at the Capitol Hilton.

The children, accompanied by Principal Mary Pat Schlickenmaier and Parochial Vicar Father Mark Moretti, were greeted personally by President George W. Bush. Before Bush delivered his speech at the event, he thanked the children for leading the group in the pledge and shook the hands of each of the children.

At St. Rita School, the students follow the Pledge of Allegiance with "God Bless America." Instinctively, the students at the breakfast sang the song after everyone finished the pledge. Schlickenmaier said the children received "an amazing response" from the audience.

The children found the president to be "very nice," and Schlickenmaier said, "The president could not have been more gracious."

Father Jose Hoyos, pastor of Holy Family Church in Dale City gave the invocation at the breakfast.

Other key speakers at the event included U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Pennsylvania-based Nueva Esperanza is one of the largest Latino faith-based community development corporations in the United States.

Schlickenmaier said the day was "awesome," and that the children clearly were impressed and enjoyed the event. She said, "It was a great great day for St. Rita’s."

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