COAL TOWNSHIP - Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School remembered one of its own Friday with "Click for Nick Day."
Nicholas Girolami was on his way to school for his first day as a junior at Lourdes in 1998 when he was killed in a one-car accident. He was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle.
Nick would have turned 31 years old on Friday.
High school students gathered in the school's gymnatorium at 1 p.m. for the program. Two small tables, each with a lit candle, were set up on the gym floor. On one was a photo of Girolami and on the other a proclamation from Northumberland County Commissioners declaring Friday "Click for Nick Day" in Northumberland County.
Coal Township Patrolman Chris Lapotsky presented "Survival 101" to the students, which showed a variety of crashes and their effects on the human body. He also relayed several personal experiences when responding to fatal accidents. The slides depicted in graphic detail real accident scenes, most of which happened locally. He talked of the importance of wearing a seat belt and the dangers of driving drunk, fatigued, distracted and speeding.
"It is very important you stay in your seat belt," Lapotsky said." It is your best chance for survival."
Lapotsky also spoke of the devastating social aspect that being in an accident has on family and friends.
"One bad decision can destroy a household. We all want you to be with us for a long, long time," he said.
Northumberland County commissioners Rick Shoch and Stephen Bridy presented to Girolami's parents, Sabrina and Joseph Girolami, with the county's proclamation. Shoch read the text of the proclamation, and Nick's mother then addressed the students.
"When you lose a child, the most fearful thing is that people forget," Sabrina said. "We never saw our son in a tux, never saw him graduate, never saw him go to college, never saw him walk down the aisle and we'll never have grandchildren from Nick. Fourteen years and there isn't a moment we don't think of him and have him in our hearts."
She also reminded the student body that what happened to her family can happen to anyone.
"One bad decision can become a lifetime of pain for everyone," she said. "My son was not invincible."
Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley also spoke at the program. He talked of the countless number of death notifications has had to make since being coroner.
"Something as simple as putting on a seat belt can save your life," Kelley said. "It only takes a couple of seconds to put it on."
He encouraged everyone to not only wear their seat belts, but to make sure everyone in the vehicle is wearing theirs as well.
Lourdes Senior Lauryn Leach, president of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), presented Sabrina Girolami with a bouquet of flowers in honor of her late son on his birthday. She accepted, fighting back tears.
Leach, who was the driving force behind "Click for Nick Day," with the assistance of the SADD officers, hopes the program helped her fellow students understand the very real dangers of being in a car accident.
"I thought it was a great way to remember one of our own students and raise awareness so this doesn't happen," Leach said.