LEDGER FORUM: Residents and kids send hugs to heroes

   In the wake of the recent tragedy, some parents are discovering unique ways to allow children to help the heroes at ground zero. The following is another shining example.
   My wife Susan and our neighbor, Rebecca Wewer, were searching for an appropriate way for children to offer help. After much discussion, they created the idea of designing T-shirts with messages from children and to somehow deliver them to workers at the World Trade Center disaster site. The idea was to create a personal message from the child on the front of each shirt and to trace the child’s arms and hands on the back of the shirt as though they were offering a hug. Thus, the Hugs for Heroes program was born. Within four days of conceiving the idea, enough parents and children participated in this project to generate nearly 100 shirts. Most shirts also included the name and age of the child.
   The next step was to devise a method of delivery. My wife’s sister, Officer Christine Grzejka, a 16-year NYPD veteran, was glad to help. On Sept. 21, on her day off, with bags of shirts in tow, Christine first visited FDNY Rescue 5 on Staten Island, where 12 firefighters are missing. She handed shirts to several firefighters and they offered their thanks, commented what a nice gesture this was and "to especially thank the kids."
   While en route to the disaster site aboard the Staten Island Ferry, Christine encountered several more firefighters. She identified herself as a member of the NYPD and a representative of a group of wonderful children in Lawrenceville, N.J. She explained, "The children want you to know how much they appreciate all your efforts and to accept a shirt as a hug from each of them." Each firefighter smiled, offered thanks, read the messages aloud to each other, and commented how much they liked their gift and what a nice idea this was.
   Because of tight security around the disaster site, Christine was required by police to identify herself at every corner. Upon explaining her mission there, all agreed it was a nice thing to do and let her pass. She encountered soldiers, firefighters, police officers and Con Edison workers taking a deserved break or on their way home, fatigued from another long day at ground zero. Each gladly accepted a shirt with a smile and thanks.
   Toward day’s end, within one block of the disaster site, she encountered a group of tired firefighters. Once again, weary faces were replaced by delighted smiles while they held their shirts up against their chests and playfully argued who had been given the best shirt. One on-looking firefighter asked, "Could I have one? I’m from Oregon." Christine responded, "Of course, you’re a hero too!"
   In the end, the Hugs for Heroes project accomplished its brief mission — to bring a few smiles and some joy to a few exhausted heroes amidst such tragic circumstances. It’s just another example of how ordinary people are reaching out to those doing extraordinary things.

John F. Pulicare
Pin Oak Drive