NATIONAL NEWS
November 30, 2001
Thanking America’s Heroes
TFK News Team Reporters describe bringing kids’ messages to New York City firefighters
 Firefighter Richard Parenty poses with TFK kid reporters. |
On November 20, TFK News Team reporters Terrence Cheromcka and Kelsey Darch delivered some of the thousands of thank you cards, drawings and letters sent in by TIME For Kids readers for New York City rescue workers. Read their reports below and check out a special slideshow of kid messages, putting together posters, and delivery day.
Terrence Cheromcka
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
On November 20, TFK Kid Reporter Kelsey Darch and I had the privilege of delivering posters and memory books with thank you cards, poems, pictures, and stories to New York City firefighters. It was a really wonderful day.
 |  Terrence interviews New York City firefighter Jerry Bonner. |
I felt like I was meeting celebrities when I shook hands with the firefighters. But all the firefighters we interviewed said that they don't think of themselves as heroes. Two other firemen had similar responses. When I asked firefighters what the community’s response has been to the tragic events of September 11, one firefighter at Engine 16, Ladder 7, said, "Unbelievable. The response has been unbelievable."
Richard Parenty, who works at a firehouse in midtown New York, added: "They have given us a lot of support, as you can see from all this stuff." He pointed to a huge Statue of Liberty that was decorated with all sorts of American symbols. Firefighter Sidney Parris said he was kind of shocked when people like me started coming by and giving things to the firehouse.
|  Terrence and Kelsey try on fire hats at New York City's Ladder 7. |
We talked to one woman who had lost a son on September 11. She told us she comes to the firehouse to have coffee with "the guys" once a week to "make sure they are behaving." But I don't think she was the only sad one. The firefighters call themselves "brothers." One firefighter said: "Calling ourselves brothers is not too much of a stretch. We do everything together!"
When I handed those firemen the memory books and posters filled with cards and letters from kids just like me, I really felt something wonderful. They had smiles on their faces. I think they were so thankful. Thankful for people who were thankful for them. What a thought!
Kelsey Darch
Farmington, Connecticut
On November 20, I had the honor to deliver some of the 30,000 letters kids like you wrote to firefighters, police officers and rescue workers in New York City. I went with another kid reporter, Terrence Cheromcka. We had a lot of fun trying on firemen hats and interviewing today’s heroes. But it wasn’t all fun. Some of it was sad.
|  Kelsey asks a firefighter what it feels like to be considered a hero. |
The first firehouse we visited was Ladder 4. Here we delivered a poster and a book full of pictures and cards from kids. We talked to a lady who lost her son to the horrible September 11 terrorist attack. Death notices and flowers/candles were everywhere. I felt so sad, but also very honored. One of the firemen we interviewed said that donations people sent meant so much to him, even just a little picture from a kid.
At Engine 54, we interviewed Sidney Parris. He said the New Yorkers and Americans had been so supportive. When we looked outside the firehouse we really understood what he meant. There was a small Statue of Liberty that was around 6 feet tall covered from head to toe with things like red, white and blue necklaces and cards.
We also visited was Ladder 7. We met the captain of the firehouse. Here Terrence and I tried on very heavy fireman’s hats. When we interviewed Paul Miller (the captain) he said he didn’t consider himself a hero. We told him that he was a hero for doing what he does every day to save people’s lives. He said that kids all across the country have done things that made him cry.
These special visits made me realize even more how much I love the United States. I also want to send out a special thank you to Paul Miller, Sidney Parris and all the other firefighters Terrence and I interviewed. I will never forget this day because I realized how much people in our country can love each other. I hope that we never lose that strong bond.
