Dyker = Heights

Sami=92s=20 classmates had no idea what was planned during her Beary Special Day, = but=20 thought she might bring in a parent also. Little did they know that she = would=20 have something different planned and all eyes lit up when they saw a = large=20 number of unstuffed Teddy Bears being brought in. Sami had chosen to = hand-stuff=20 large teddy bears for children who had lost a parent during his or her = service=20 overseas with her own Operation-Send A Hug.

BILLY=20 KIDD=92S RIDE ACROSS AMERICA=20 We did=20 it! We made it across America on our Road King's. Dave = Lawson=20 of Rookies and I made our way across the country stopping at = National Guard=20 bases along the way to raise awareness of their enormous sacrifice and = to raise=20 some money for kids through the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. = This is=20 Billy=92s message to his listeners after his return from his trip. Billy = and Dave=20 stopped at different National Guard Bases to show their appreciation, = handing=20 out certificates of appreciation, tee-shirts and other items to our NG = members.=20 They also joined the families when members of the 449th Aviation Maintenance Group returned Listeners = donated close=20 to $2,200.00!

Hillsborough=92s=20 own =91Two Floors Down=92 performed

Classic=20 Rock hits!

All enjoyed great food, = fun and=20 music in honor of those serving and those fallen raising close to

$10,=20 000.00

for NJ families=20

affected by the recent = conflicts=20

http://www.2floorsdown.com/

Flying Giants=20 Fundraiser

Aeromodeling=20 enthusiasts

from=20 all over campaigned to raise funds for the children. In just a couple of = short=20 weeks they raised a whooping

$3,216.41!

SEABEES = TEAM RUN FOR=20 THE 2ND YEAR IN THE FALMOUTH ROAD = RACE

For the = 2nd year a=20 team of 4 runners signed = up on the=20 SeaBee Team that was formed last year by John Dillon, SeaBee to raise = funds for=20 CFSRF. Many thanks to Amy, Heidi, Megan, Pat and all who pledged funds = on their=20 behalf. The Team raised close to $4,800.00=20 this=20 year!BIKING IN = TRIBUTE

John = Cook=92s Solo=20 Bicycle Ride Across the States began in February where he left a local=20 elementary school with students in full wave, averaging approximately 57 = miles a=20 day and most alone, his trek took him through the lower half of the US. = One day=20 he even traveled 99 miles. The trip was ended prematurely in Arizona = when a=20 trucker hit him, his

MISS=20 PATRIOTIC

COLORADO

The first = annual=20 Miss Patriot Colorado Pageant was held at Peak Community College -=20

Centennial = Campus in=20 Colorado Springs on April 14th and raised $2,856.44 for our=20 families!!

The 2nd = annual=20 pageant is being planned for July 2008. Visit the website to learn more = and see=20 the 2007 winners

Mrs. = Colorado,=20 Tiffany Sawyer whose husband serves in our Armed Forces did an amazing=20 job!

http://www.misspatrioticco= lorado.com/

FREEDOM=20 IS NOT FREE KIDS

MARATHON=20

School = students from=20 Dyker Heights in Brooklyn participated in the 2 mile Freedom Is Not Free = Marathon hosted by Dyker Heights Athletic Association and St. = Bernadette=92s=20 parish raised $5,500.00=20 for=20 military families. More than 240 students participated in the marathon = and=20 enjoyed the day long festivities. The=20 race was from 82^nd = street and 13^th = avenue down 12^th = avenue to 66^th = street and back to 82^nd = street. The kids ran according to their grades. The funds = were=20 raised for the CFSRF and St. Bernadette=92s

Parish.=20 http://www.knightsaa.org/

Each=20 child participated in hand-stuffing their teddies, making a wish on a = star that=20 was placed inside and handwriting special messages to surviving military = children. Each attached their own message to each bear with a ribbon. = The=20 messages varied, but they all sent warm wishes, letting the other child = know=20 that they had a friend, asked them not to be sad and to hug their teddy = when=20 they were.

Ms.=20 Williams=92 first grade class of 23 will be putting smiles on children = of our=20 fallen and are the very first 1^st grade=20 class in Gaithersburg to host their own Operation Send a=20 Hug

KIDS=20 CARE TOO!

"The=20 joy that is received by one small child when he or she receives his or = her=20 personally hand-stuffed teddy is immeasurable.=94 =93The tears of our young can = often be=20 erased with one hug from another and what better person to share in = offering a=20 hug and a little joy to another child, but another child,=94 said = Rebecca=20 Campbell, Founder of the CFSRF."The joy that is received by one small = child when=20 he or she receives his or her personally hand-stuffed teddy is=20 immeasurable.=94 =93The = tears of our=20 young can often be erased with one hug from another and what better = person to=20 share in offering a hug and a little joy to another child, but another = child,=94=20 said Rebecca Campbell, Founder of the = CFSRF.

Some other charity events=20

Page=20 2

January=20 2008 = CFSRF=20 NEWS

bike, = trailer,=20 laptop and all his belongings. John sustained some injuries and quite a = bit of=20 aches and pain, but did make it through. His bike, laptop and the = majority of=20 his personal belongings were destroyed. We are so saddened about this = horrible=20 accident and hope others remember that they are not alone on the road. = John did=20 a amazing trek and if the circumstances were different we know would = have=20 completed his trek for the education of our children. His supporters = were many=20 and contributed a little more than $2,800.00.=20 It=92s=20 not everyday that someone sacrifices so much of their own time for = others. John=20 we will never forget you and what you stand for. Read about this amazing = man on=20 his site.

When = Samantha (Sami)=20 learned that she and each of her classmates would be planning their own = =93Beary=20 Special Week=94 and that they could pick their own =93Beary=20 Special Day=94 to bring = in a=20 parent, items from home, make ice cream sundaes, crafts or anything they = chose=20 to share with their classmates, she chose to have the class do something = =93Beary=20 Special=94 for = surviving=20 military children.

As=20 most of us know young children like fun things. They enjoy being = surprised,=20 toys, treats and anything else that sparks and keeps their interest.=20