[DL] Long Memories OT

[Allan Seyberth <darious@darious.com>]

Found this off of CNN.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) -- A group of South Carolina schoolchildren 
said Tuesday they have raised nearly half a million dollars, exceeding 
their goal to buy New York City a fire truck and help repay a 134-year debt 
of kindness.

Efforts by White Knoll Middle School students to replace one of the fire 
trucks lost in the September 11 attacks got a boost when it was discovered 
that New York firefighters had given a fire wagon to Columbia two years 
after the Civil War. Columbia officials at the time promised never to 
forget the favor.

"It shows we care about people in New York," said eighth-grader Laurin 
Huffstetler. "It also shows we keep our promises."

The children plan to present a check for $447,265 to New York Mayor Rudolph 
Giuliani during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. That covers the 
$350,000 cost of the truck and any other equipment firefighters wish to buy.

South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges hopes the truck will wear a little South 
Carolina pride. At Tuesday's announcement, he gave students a blue Palmetto 
State flag to take to New York.

White Knoll Principal Nancy Turner said she was surprised the students were 
able to raise the money so quickly. But she said the children never doubted it.

When she told adults about buying the fire truck, they all asked, "How much 
will it cost?" All the students wanted to know was, "Who was going to drive?"

It was Turner who stumbled across records of New York's long-ago gift while 
doing research about the cost and what type of truck to buy.

In 1867, Columbia was still struggling to recover from the devastation of 
the Civil War when the New York Firemen's Association heard the city was 
still using bucket brigades to fight fires.

The New Yorkers -- many of them former Union soldiers -- took up a 
collection to buy Columbia a fire wagon. When the wagon was lost during 
shipment, they took up another collection and bought yet another wagon.

Former Confederate Col. Samuel Melton was so overwhelmed that he promised 
on behalf of South Carolina's capital to someday return the favor "should 
misfortune ever befall the Empire City."

Inspired by the historical link, William Murray, a New York attorney with 
South Carolina ties, pledged $100,000 to the campaign if the students could 
raise the remainder. Columbia Fire Chief John Jansen, a native New Yorker, 
also joined in to help lead the fund-raising efforts.

While emphasis had been put on the repayment of the 19th century kindness, 
several officials Tuesday focused on the lessons of giving.

"This is the ultimate example of character education," said state Education 
Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum. "These students have given a gift to the 
people of New York, but they have also given a gift to all of us."


-------------------
Allan Seyberth
darious@darious.com
Deadlands fan site - http://www.darious.com/

Are we disheartened by the breakup of the family? Nobody who ever met my 
family is.
                 -P.J. O'Rourke