Today in my 5th rgade calss we had an open discussion about yesterday’s events. Never underestimate a 9-year-old! These kids knew how many planes, where they landed, what buildings collapsed, and even about bin Laden. A few were a bit scared that we were at war, but I rallied them saying now is the time to wear red, white, and blue, and that like that song (hey, they identified with it)–we may get knocked down, but we’ll get up again, and they’re never going to keep us down! I xeroxed a newspaper photo of the firemen putting a flag atop the WTC rubble and put it up on the chalkboard–oh, man, that pic says it all.
Anyway, I told them never to let anyone say they can’t make a difference simply because they’re small. We brainstormed as a class what we could do, despite being 3,000 miles away, to offer support. Their suggestion was to write letters of encouragement and outright cheers to the firefighters, policemen, and other rescuers–as well as the civilians–now hospitalized. They have–and how proud I am of them! One student said that “You all should get a medal from the President himself that says ‘Best Heroes in the USA!’” Other similar sentiments appear in other letters. I know that these letters are essentially a drop in the bucket, but the entire nation, and a large part of the world, is with these people–and we’d like to let them know that. I hope their hospital rooms are wallpapered with similar letters, cards, banners, etc. from schools all over the country–world!
I thought I might find an easier time getting addresses, but this is trickier than I thought. I know that the wounded were sent to 4 area hospitals, and I’m trying to find their names. Is there a Doper out there who can help me find a mailing address for them?
Take the letters to your local Red Cross… They will get them where they need to go. When I was staioned in Somalia during operation Restore Hope this is how we received our “Any Servicemember” letters. Also, don’t forget to give blood.
Anyway…Johnny, thanks, I’ll check in with our local Red Cross.
BTW, I can’t donate blood. Number one, I’ve had a piercing in the last 5 months…but number two, I’m also a fainter. Last (and only) time I donated blood, I vomitted repeatedly, was barely conscious (and being yelled at to open my eyes) for a long time, and had no measureable blood pressure. They told me “I really recommend you don’t give blood again” over and over again through it all.
“BTW, I can’t donate blood. Number one, I’ve had a piercing in the last 5 months…but number two, I’m also a fainter. Last (and only) time I donated blood, I vomitted repeatedly, was barely conscious (and being yelled at to open my eyes) for a long time, and had no measureable blood pressure. They told me “I really recommend you don’t give blood again” over and over again through it all”
Actually that was just a general statement, not specifically directed to you. Sorry for the misunderstanding, probably should have been more clear.
This is an address where you can send cards, letters
of support, etc. The cards will be delivered to many
different hospitals, plus they will be distributed among
the local fire and police departments.
Tower Tragedy
P.O. Box 2
Island Park, NY 11558
CNN has set up an email for pictures
of people missing at the WTC Disaster.
It is Missing@CNN.COM
I’ve already sent off the first batch of letters to the Bellevue and NYU Downtown Hospital. However, the next batch (the kids are still turning them in) will go to this address.
Sorry, can’t help you w/ the address part, but the song by chumbawumba that you sang w/ your class is about alcohol, drinking problems and how someone pushes themself to the edge (on the amount they can drink) and then comes back again to drink again another night. Teach your kids the story behind “Puff the Magic Dragon”, see if the PTA is happy w/ that one.
Golly, the Chumbawumba song is about alcohol? WhatEVER could “Puff, the Magic Dragon” be about…
The children related to the song. They have no real idea of what it is truly about, certainly not to the extent clayton examined it, but they could make the connection of the country being given a blow yet not being overcome.
The parents, the students, and myself were and are more interested in helping the victims of a national tragedy than fretting over song lyrics.
BTW…the suggestion that “Puff” is about marijuana is actually urban legend. There are several online cites for this, including http://www.urbanlegends.com/songs/puff_the_magic_dragon.html Interestingly enough, a Vietnam weapon was named
Puff the Magic Dragon." It was an AC-47 gunship, as detailed at the link above.
