Newsletter20

There are literally hundreds of thousands of HEROES today.

Starting with the passengers who fought with the hijackers
and slammed the plane into a field in Pennsylvania, and
passengers on other flights who made calls trying to let
others know what was going on. The thousands of volunteers
who are still pouring into GROUND ZERO, from as far away
as Hawaii, California and Puerto Rico, to sift for survivors.
The hundreds of thousands who flocked to give blood. The
daycare teachers who rescued 30 children. The hundreds who
gave their lives trying to rescue others. The restaurateur
and shop owners, even the local McDonald's who are supplying
food and a smile. The hundreds who line the entrances and
bridges cheering. The thousands who organize candlelight
vigils to give their community the knowledge that they are
not alone in their feelings. The hundreds of little stories
like the one below.
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By Associated Press, 9/21/2001 23:47

MUNNSVILLE, N.Y. (AP)

Renee Rifenburg woke up on Sept. 11 expecting to celebrate
her 11th birthday. Instead, like the rest of the nation,
she was shocked and horrified to learn of the terrorist
attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. Knowing that
it was inappropriate to have a celebration, the sixth-grader
decided to do something.
She donated her birthday money $20 to the Red Cross.
"My parents helped me make the decision," Rifenburg told the
Oneida Dispatch. "There are kids who have been hurt really bad."
Rifenburg said talking to her parents, Michael and Maryann,
about what happened helped her understand the situation. She
also wrote a letter to the Red Cross where she talked about
how she was concerned for all the children who lost their
parents in the attacks.
Both of Renee's parents said they are very proud of their
daughter's charitable act.
"'She was really upset and she wanted to do something so I
told her she had her birthday money," Michael Rifenburg said.
"And then she wrote the letter."
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I am PROUD of Americans, and I am very happy to be one.

JBS