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Fifth-graders at Eisenhower Elementary recently wrote letters to firefighters and emergency personnel in New York and drew pictures to encourage those workers who have been affected by last week's tragedy.
The students are in the class of Jan Knoop, who said, "I think those letters are very insightful and very tender."
The kids wrote to firemen, she said, because there were so many firemen affected.
"They wrote from their hearts," she said.
Following is a sample of some of the letters:
"Dear Firemen,
"I appreciate the lives you saved. I'm sorry for the friends and family members that are gone. You saved a lot of people but also lost some people. To us you are true heroes.
"Your friend, Zack"
*****
"Dear Firemen,
"I'm so sorry that this tragedy happened and that you lost so much family and friends. I'm so honored that you risk your life every day for other people.
"Yours truly, Dylan"
*****
"Dear Firemen,
"I admire your honor and courage. I thank you for continuing to take risks. I am sorry for your friends that got killed, and my heart is heavy for your loved ones. It is a tragedy that people would want to do this. We appreciate your persistence. I feel sorry for the people who did this. I think you have done an outstanding job.
"Your fellow American, Kyle"
*****
"Dear Firemen,
"I'm sorry about the tragedy and loss of your loved ones. I hope something like this never happens again! Thank you for risking your life for others! I think that if you were in the Olympics for this you would have a gold medal!! Thank you and Sorry!! You're the best!
"Sincerely, Christa"
*****
"Dear Firemen,
"I congratulate you on your courage and heart to dig through the debris and smoke just to save more persons' lives, risking your own. I think you're doing a great job at cleaning up this terrible mess. I feel sorry for your friends that have died on the job. I feel how mad you are at the people that did this, how sorry you feel for the people that died, and how happy you feel when you find a survivor, and desperate when you haven't because I'm an American.
"Your friend, Alex"
*****
"Dear Firemen,
"Thank you for saving some American people. I am sorry about your loss of firemen. I am sure some of those firemen were your friends. Thank you for continuing on risking your life to save people I really appreciate it. I have a lot of anger at the terrorists. I am sorry for everything.
"Your admirer, Amanda"
