Patriots Patrol Program
A program sponsored by the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance for elementary school children. This program was launched in December with a special project called "Pennies from Heaven". This project had the children collect pennies to help buy specially designed remembrance gifts for children who lost a loved one in the September 11th attacks. This positive act by the children was a way for them to respond to and cope with the impact of the tragedy.
The Patriots Patrol Program is designed to provide ways for children to put patriotism into action. It teaches them about patriotism and the American spirit, including the idea that even a small act, when we work together, can make our country stronger and able to endure anything. It helps them connect as Americans.
Tinker students participate in "Pennies From Heaven"
By 2nd Lt. Michal Kloeffler
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
This is a time of year when we celebrate and enjoy seeing the smiles on children's faces while opening holiday gifts. However, smiles will be hard to come by on the faces of the children who lost their parents Sept. 11.
Tuesday, children from Tinker Elementary School at MacDill participated in a program known as Pennies from Heaven.
They wanted to let the children who are victims of the Sept. 11 attacks know they are not alone.
Children of all ages participated in donating pennies, which they brought from home. These pennies will buy packaged gifts for all the children who are victims of the tragic events.
The packages will include a toy Frisbee, a specially made pillowcase and a poster signed by 50 famous sports individuals. These gifts will be delivered to the children's homes. With so many addresses to find, the gifts hopefully will be delivered by Christmas, but all are expected to reach the children by Valentine's Day.
The Pennies from Heaven program is sponsored by the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance, No Greater Love and the Inter- national Union of, Painters and Allied Trades.
Representatives from these groups attended the donation ceremony. They commended the students for their generosity and big hearts.
"This program gives children a chance to show what they can do as citizens," said Camella LaSpada, White House liaison and executive director of the commission.
"This program is just the beginning of our children's Patriots Patrol Program'," she added.
Tinker is only one of six schools in the nation to participate in this program.
"We'd like to use Tinker Elementary School as the model for other military installations," LaSpada said. Cheryl Tyo, the school's principal, got the school involved.
"The hearts of our children went straight out to the victims' children, ' said Felicia Williams, Tinker Elementary assistant principal., "I was impressed with the heartfelt sensitivity and complete awareness the children expressed. Our students like to share and hope to help these children in some way." The amount of pennies collected was "extremely overwhelming."
The White House commission was recently established by Congress to honor those who died serving our country. Its purpose is to sustain the American spirit through acts of remembrance, not just on Memorial Day but throughout the year.
Through its ongoing programs like the new children's Patriots Patrol Program, the Moment of Remembrance acts as a banner to encourage Americans of all ages to take a moment every day to reflect on the blessings of our land and to demonstrate gratitude by giving back to our nation.
No Greater Love is America's only organization solely dedicated to providing annual programs of remembrance, friendship and care for the families of Americans who died in service to our country or by an act of terrorism. This humanitarian, nonpolitical organization was founded in 1971.
The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, established in 1887, is a labor union of 140,000 men and women committed to providing the finest craftsmanship in their trades.
MacDill Thunderbolt
December 14, 2001