Michael, Mom Theresa, and Brian Stack, who lost FDNY Battalion Chief Laurence T. Stack on September 11, 2001, at WTC, came along with us this trip to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. We did our best to bring lots of hope, prayers and holiday gifts to the troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

We would like to thank the FDNY, PAPD, and NYPD for their fabulous escort from Ft. Hamilton to New Jersey, where the NJSP (New Jersey State Police) picked up the convoy and escorted us to the state line in Delaware.

Thanks go out to the following:

FF Gene Stolowski; FF John Walters, Rescue 1; Capt John Feehan, Div. 3; Captain Steve Mockler, Div.14; FF Paul Quirke, L-27,;FF Christopher Kalin, L-116; FF Brian Flaherty, L-116; FF. Michael Prior, L-138; FF. William Woytkim, L-27; FF. Danny “Santa’s Driver” Prince, Safety Battalion; Bat. Chief (ret.) James Riches of the FDNY. In addition FF. Claudio Paplaia, L 149, in the “True Spirit of FDNY” literally gave the jacket off of his back to a disabled soldier who had admired it.

Also to be commended are Brooklyn Borough Command Chief Ed Kilduff and Chief Weinglaw, who contacted every Battalion and initiated the collection of the 1150 holiday t-shirts and 347 caps for the trip.

Lynda Thomson, Angela Alongi, and Captain Anthony Lipari , Bat. 50, who bought and brought the wool so that The Senior Ladies of St. Margaret’s R. C. Church in Middle Village Queens could knit and crochet 347 hand-made scarves and 220 hand-made lap blankets. Thanks also go out to Laurie Auvenire, Amy Minerva, Joan Leone, and Maurine Ginzburg., as well as the WWII Purple Heart POWs, “Key Club” Members from The VA Hospital at Fort Hamilton, and PAPD Detectives Barbara and Pat Mahon who also brought knitted quilts, 4 flags that flew over Ground Zero after 9-11 (these were given to the Colonel of Walter Reed Army Medical Center to give to 4 Soldiers at the hospital), hats, t-shirts, and other assorted PAPD gifts. In addition, the Doecas Society of the Bethlehem Lutheren Church of Bay Ridge donated custom made shopping bags of personal items for the troops.

We were split into 2 groups, so that the presents could be distributed to more troops. The first group stayed at the hospital, and the second went on to Mologne House and the two Fisher Houses. Then the roles were reversed, so that everyone could wish a Merry Christmas to all.

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