A Little Inspiration For A Tough Job

Hawley first grader Erica Knapp received the following response from the message she tucked into a pair of gloves that were sent to the rescuers in New York City.

                           

Dear Erica,

My name is Charles Villani, and I am a detective with the Bronx Homicide Squad, New York City Police Department. I am writing to thank you for the wonderful work gloves you donated to the World Trade Center rescue effort. As an NYPD detective I was assigned to assist in the rescue/recovery mission at ground-zero and also evidence collection in the rubble brought to Staten Island. The other day while I was at the landfill on Staten Island I was working hard digging through huge piles of steel and concrete searching for evidence when I realized that my work gloves were ripped and that I needed to get new ones. I went over to the supply tent where so many wonderful people from all over the country had donated supplies for us to use. I was lucky enough to pick a very special pair with a very touching note inside. I must admit that I got a little choked up when I read it because I have a daughter in the first grade just like you. I showed the note to all the other detectives that I was working with and they told me to tell you thank you, too. You’d be surprised if you knew what a big effect your note had on all these big “tough guy” detectives around here, you softened us up a little bit and made us realize what great people we have in our country and that no matter what kind of tragedies may befall us we’ll always come out on top.

So thank you again Erica. I hung your note in my office so that if any detective gets discouraged with the difficult task ahead of us all he has to do is look at your note for inspiration…

Sincerely,

Charles Villani

Detective NYPD

                                               October 3, 2001