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The American Freedom Ride Truck has come to represent a very special showing of national love and support for the families of the firefighters and law enforcement officers who were lost during the September 11th attacks.   Not only did it haul thousands of teddy bears across the country to the children who are hurting, it also gathered the signatures and messages of thousands of fellow firefighters and police officers, many of whom joined the ride and escorted the teddy bears across their states.  We owe a debt of gratitude to the multitude of law enforcement officers and firefighters who came out to sign the truck as it carried "The Great Big Teddy Bear Hug" across the country.  These heart-rending messages must be read to be appreciated and we will make every effort to keep the truck accessible for public viewing. 

A warm California welcome to FDNY Engine 33 / Ladder 9 Firefighters Pasadena, California Sunday, December 16, 2001
Click on any picture to view the larger image
Firefighters from all over California sign the AFR truck in Pasadena, CA	View Images from the welcome Rally for FDNY firefighters in Pasadena, CA
Port Authority Chief signs the AFR  truck before it enters New York	FDNY Battalion Chief speaks to the  riders at Ground Zero
View images from visit to Fritts Ford   in Riverside, California	View images from the 2001 Hemet Christmas Parade
Read a letter from a family whose  child received a teddy bear	Read a letter from a Red Cross  worker who delivered teddy bears

Thank you letter from

the Port Authority Police Department

Please watch this site for scheduled viewing locations of the American Freedom Ride Truck or contact our office for more information.

Click on a date below to view that days pictures or video clips.

If you have copies of newspaper articles or clips of TV news coverage of any of these events, please send them to the Raising Hope office:

Raising Hope

26594 Placentia Avenue

Perris, CA 92571

Phone: 909-943-2773        Fax: 786-551-0700

dhaglund@raisinghope.net 

© 2001 Raising Hope. All Rights Reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without specific written permission.