Nymet31
09-11-2003, 07:52 PM
NEW YORK -- Carrie Dean simply beamed when asked about how the Mets have remembered the families of Sept. 11 victims.
As the event director for Tuesday's Children, Dean has close ties with many families who suffered losses on that tragic day. And while time has caused some to distance themselves from 9/11-related charitable causes, Dean is quick to point out how the Mets have kept close ties to those whose lives were forever changed.
"People aren't as forthcoming as they were," Dean said. "It's been a little tougher with the exception of the Mets. The Mets have a pretty strong tradition of community service. They can't do enough for these kids and they never want any credit for it."
Dean was speaking Wednesday morning just beyond the bleachers in left field at Shea Stadium. A few feet behind her, several of the Mets were signing autographs for children who lost relatives on Sept. 11. In front of her, scores of children were enjoying a picnic lunch before the game between New York and Florida.
It was all part of a celebration the Mets put together to honor the victims of Sept. 11 on the eve of the two-year anniversary of that terrible day.
"I don't think you can ever do enough, especially when you get further away from that day," Dean said. "This lets families know that we haven't forgotten and the loss is still felt by the city in particular and the country in general. And the Mets are one of the few who have gone above the call of duty.
"And the kids love this stuff, particularly on the day before the anniversary. It's a very rough week for them and to get to see a game and meet the players in the best medicine for them."
The National Anthem was a taped a cappella originally performed by Yolanda Dowling at Shea on Aug. 4, 1996. Dowling worked on the 92nd floor of Tower Two. After directing dozens of people to safety, she lost her own life when the tower collapsed. Her family was on the field during the chilling rendition.
The five ceremonial first pitches were thrown out by each of the five 9/11 groups on hand. John Coppo, 15, represented Voices of September; Alex Salamone, 8, represented Families of September; Hubert Hines, 7, represented Windows of Hope; Robert Shay, 7, represented St. Claire's WTC Outreach and Timothy Moroney, 11, represented Tuesday's Children.
There was a pre-game concert by Billy J. Kramer and Frank Annunziata. In addition, Al Leiter, John Franco, Tom Glavine and Mike Piazza each donated $5,000 with the Mets matching their pledges to total $40,000, which will be used to start the Mets Scholarship Fund through Tuesday's Children.
Remembering: The Mets wore the caps of several New York City law enforcement agencies as well as a cap honoring Tuesday's Children. It marked the third consecutive year they had received permission to do so.
Piazza said that it's import to remember what happened that day even if some seem to have forgotten.
"Today just shows how committed this organization is to the whole situation that occurred and that it still remembers," Piazza said. "That's something this organization should be proud of. It's very important to all of us. In this day and age, we should all be proud of the outpouring when a tragedy occurs.
"I guess [forgetting] is a conscious suppression or just getting comfortable. People tend to do that but life is very precious. It's something we should remember every day. We have a lot to be thankful for here and freedom doesn't come without a price. It's been tough for these families to get back to normalcy."
As the event director for Tuesday's Children, Dean has close ties with many families who suffered losses on that tragic day. And while time has caused some to distance themselves from 9/11-related charitable causes, Dean is quick to point out how the Mets have kept close ties to those whose lives were forever changed.
"People aren't as forthcoming as they were," Dean said. "It's been a little tougher with the exception of the Mets. The Mets have a pretty strong tradition of community service. They can't do enough for these kids and they never want any credit for it."
Dean was speaking Wednesday morning just beyond the bleachers in left field at Shea Stadium. A few feet behind her, several of the Mets were signing autographs for children who lost relatives on Sept. 11. In front of her, scores of children were enjoying a picnic lunch before the game between New York and Florida.
It was all part of a celebration the Mets put together to honor the victims of Sept. 11 on the eve of the two-year anniversary of that terrible day.
"I don't think you can ever do enough, especially when you get further away from that day," Dean said. "This lets families know that we haven't forgotten and the loss is still felt by the city in particular and the country in general. And the Mets are one of the few who have gone above the call of duty.
"And the kids love this stuff, particularly on the day before the anniversary. It's a very rough week for them and to get to see a game and meet the players in the best medicine for them."
The National Anthem was a taped a cappella originally performed by Yolanda Dowling at Shea on Aug. 4, 1996. Dowling worked on the 92nd floor of Tower Two. After directing dozens of people to safety, she lost her own life when the tower collapsed. Her family was on the field during the chilling rendition.
The five ceremonial first pitches were thrown out by each of the five 9/11 groups on hand. John Coppo, 15, represented Voices of September; Alex Salamone, 8, represented Families of September; Hubert Hines, 7, represented Windows of Hope; Robert Shay, 7, represented St. Claire's WTC Outreach and Timothy Moroney, 11, represented Tuesday's Children.
There was a pre-game concert by Billy J. Kramer and Frank Annunziata. In addition, Al Leiter, John Franco, Tom Glavine and Mike Piazza each donated $5,000 with the Mets matching their pledges to total $40,000, which will be used to start the Mets Scholarship Fund through Tuesday's Children.
Remembering: The Mets wore the caps of several New York City law enforcement agencies as well as a cap honoring Tuesday's Children. It marked the third consecutive year they had received permission to do so.
Piazza said that it's import to remember what happened that day even if some seem to have forgotten.
"Today just shows how committed this organization is to the whole situation that occurred and that it still remembers," Piazza said. "That's something this organization should be proud of. It's very important to all of us. In this day and age, we should all be proud of the outpouring when a tragedy occurs.
"I guess [forgetting] is a conscious suppression or just getting comfortable. People tend to do that but life is very precious. It's something we should remember every day. We have a lot to be thankful for here and freedom doesn't come without a price. It's been tough for these families to get back to normalcy."