Around the Country, Kids Come to Grips with Tuesday's Attacks - And Reach Out One Letter at a Time

Written by Julie Irby, Volunteer Staff Writer, RedCross.org

As the images of the September 11 attack continue to be shown day after day, and as more hero stories emerge, and families grieve, a special portion of America's population is being affected in deep, yet simple ways. Minds that have not yet been filled up with work deadlines, grocery lists, and appointments are processing the events in their own way - and what they have figured out, simply put, is this: People died. People are helping.

Workers at the World Trade Center disaster site can read thank-you cards while they take a meal break at a Red Cross respite center.

Thousands of children - from toddlers to teenagers - want to play their part to help those in need. Red Cross chapters across the country received phone calls, piggy banks, cards, letters, ribbons, and signs from kids trying desperately to express their grief by offering hope to those touched by the attack.

"I just wanted to help the hurt people," said a five-year-old Houston girl in a letter. Another young girl wrote "It just made me so sad, I wanted to help." Notes have been posted at Red Cross relief centers at the Pentagon and in New York City for all to see and glean comfort from.

Emily, a four-year-old from Houston, bugged her parents during the week of the 11th to go to the Red Cross "because they need our help." Busy with other things, her parents kept delaying the visit. They relented when Emily said "my heart hurts."

On the Thursday afternoon after the attacks, an eight-year-old girl and her father walked into the Mid-Rio Grande Red Cross chapter in New Mexico to make a donation. The little girl, Rachel, asked where she could mail a letter to firefighters who were helping.

On one side, she drew a picture of her school and her friends, with hearts and the sun with a big smile. The other side says "to fierfiters from Rachel Baeza. Dear fierfiters im sorry your friends died. I feel sad for every body and I feel sad for the hurt ones."

Her father, Martin, said "She was really feeling sorry that they had lost their friends. She understood the basics: that friends had lost friends."

Martin and Rachel Baeza

Martin and Rachel went to the Red Cross together to drop off the letter thinking that was the best and fastest way to get it to the right place. "It was pretty neat of her to do that," said Martin. "She went into her room for two hours and came out with the letter."

Rachel explained, "I just heard about it, and I thought it would be good for another person. It made me feel excited and happy." Her school principal posted a copy of her letter and her photo for the rest of the school to see.

Pinned on one of the relief tents at the Pentagon is a brightly-colored note from Brittany Holts, a 12-year-old who dropped off her thank-you card at the Arlington, Va., chapter of the Red Cross:

"Thank you firefighters for all you have done. My dad works in the North Wing of the Pentagon, but it could have been reversed, and he could have been lost. You have done your best to find the lost ones, and I just want you all to know you are thanked."

Students from Watkins Elementary School in Washington, D.C., sent notes as well.

"Please people, can we just get along? Please people make this not happen again," wrote one boy.

Tanisha King said, "I am very, very sorry that some of your people got caught in the building when it fell. Thank you and I love you."

Denise McKracken, a Red Cross volunteer from Long Island, helped display some of the children's artwork at one of the Red Cross relief centers in New York City. "The letters and drawings really brighten up the place," McKracken said. "They are a morale booster, and they help keep everyone connected to the rest of America."

One child's picture of a big red heart with a crack down the center creatively illustrates the feeling people around the country have been experiencing since Sept. 11 - heartbreak. His message of thanks and sorrow reads:

Dear Rescue Workers,
I want to thank you for saving people in the Pentagon. I know that some of your people were in the building when it fell. I am very sorry some of your people got caught in it when it fell.