Goodies Sent To Thank Servicemen And Women

The Christmas tree at the Varricchio home was decorated with small bows representing the emergency workers lost in the WTC attack.

After the September 11th attack I knew in my heart our world had changed and that Christmas, my favorite time of year, would be different this year. So to help heal myself, my family and my many friends, I decided to decorate my Christmas tree with red, white and blue bows. A tribute to our fallen heroes, I have 343 bows in honor of the NYFD, 23 bows for NYPD and 8 bows for the soldiers who have died. While decorating the tree, my son asked, "Mom, what about all those who died in the towers?" I gently stroked the branch and said, "they’re all the pine needles."

We are very blessed and grateful for all we have but our hearts go out to the thousands of families who have suffered great loss this past year.

To thank the servicemen and women, I sent out a note to friends requesting they make cookies to be forwarded by me overseas. I was able to send over 200 pounds of cookies, along with cassette tapes and Christmas cards from Haldane Elementary and other schools from across the river. I started by sending the boxes to my nephew, Michael, who is a US Reconnaissance Marine stationed on the USS Essex. We were able to provide the entire ship with Christmas cookies. Our best Christmas present of all was that Michael was home for Christmas. He was able to report that he and thousands of Marines did get all the cookies and loved every bite.

A small token of thanks goes to our servicemen and women for keeping our country safe while we all enjoyed the Christmas Holidays of 2001.