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HomeNewsArchives'HELMET DRIVE' TO BENEFIT FIREFIGHTERS' FAMILIES

'HELMET DRIVE' TO BENEFIT FIREFIGHTERS' FAMILIES

Sept. 18, 2001 – Firefighters territorywide launched a "helmet drive" Tuesday morning to collect donations for the families of New York firefighters who lost their lives in responding to the terrorist attacks a week ago.
"We have firefighters in front of each station holding out their helmets to collect whatever anyone wants to give," Lt. Neil Berry said.
On Sunday, Berry said, "A small delegation of V.I. firefighters is going to New York to give a check to the New York firefighters' families. There is a memorial service for the firefighters on Sunday, and we want to be there."
Firefighter David Hodge got the drive going. "We came up with this within the last 48 hours," he said. "They are our fallen comrades."
Berry and Hodge said all of the V.I. firefighters feel a strong bond with their New York colleagues. "They always come to the station to say hi when they are here on vacation," one said. "We all have NYFD T-shirts." They agreed that "we had to do it; we all feel the tragedy."
Members of both the firefighters union and the fire supervisors union are holding out their helmets, Hodge said. Cash and checks are accepted. Checks should be made out to Firefighters Local 2125, he said.
Response so far has been good, Hodge said. "The people have been really appreciative — even the tourists are giving us a little dollar or so." He stressed that any amount is fine, "25 cents, anything. And we want to make it absolutely clear that every penny is going into the check to give to the families."

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