UPDATE:   This morning President Russell represented our Local at this event held at the Pentagon.  Joel Kolbersteen, Fairfax County Fire Fighters communications director, reported that nearly 350 signed t-shirts had been collected and donated to the "HeroToHero" organization.  President Russell said "It was an honor to represent the NDW region fire fighters as they participate in this wonderful event to thank the troops serving in harms way to protect our freedoms at home." 

WTOP Radio posted a report on their site:  http://www.wtop.com/?sid=595567&nid=92  Just look for the HERO TO HERO article

The National Capital Federal Fire Fighters will join Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC first responders  present over 200 signed T-shirts to the HeroToHero campaign at a press event during Memorial Day Weekend.   Local members are encouraged to participate and show your unity by proudly wearing a NCFFF Local F121 shirt to the event in which we will send over 100 F121 signed t-shirts to troops overseas.

When: 10:00 am on Saturday, May 24, 2008
Where: North Parking Lot of the Pentagon

The HeroToHero campaign is the brainchild of Liz Jackson of Lakewood, Washington whose son served in Afghanistan and whose cousin was killed in Iraq. She asked local first responders who their heroes were and they replied, “The troops overseas.” When the troops overseas were asked the same question, they replied, “The first responders protecting our loved ones back home.” Since 2004, Liz has made an annual circuit around the United States (55 cities) visiting first responders and collecting t-shirts with messages of support to send to deployed troops. Upon receipt overseas, the T-shirts are then traded amongst units and personnel in an effort for them to ‘find a piece of home’. This year, due to medical problems, Liz is unable to make the nationwide trip and the campaign will be greatly affected. Fairfax County Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics coordinated this drive in an attempt to keep the campaign alive and show our deployed brothers and sisters that they are still in our thoughts and prayers. Fire and police apparatus from around the area will be on display as well as the personnel who staff them every day. Liz Jackson will also be attending.

“HeroToHero is not about pro-war, anti-war or war at all! HeroToHero is about troop morale,” organizer Liz Jackson says. “The photographs that come back from the troops that receive the shirts speak volumes.”

More on the HeroToHero campaign can be found at: www.herotohero.us

DC Metro Area Donates 400 T-Shirts for Hero to Hero May 28, 2008 – Thanks to the strong organizational efforts of Fairfax County, VA Local 2068, the Washington, DC metro area fire and police departments donated 400 T-shirts to the “Hero to Hero,” a nationwide program that collects signed T-shirts from emergency first responders to send to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as a show of support. Fairfax County, VA Local 2068 organized the region-wide effort. T-shirts were gathered from members of Local 2068; Fairfax City, VA Local 2702; Arlington County, VA Local 2800; Stafford County, VA Local 4012; Loudon County, VA Local 3756, Washington, DC Local 36; National Capitol Federal Fire Fighters Local F-121; and Prince George’s County, MD Local 1619. Pentagon and Fairfax County, Virginia, police officers also participated. In appreciation, Hero to Hero founder Liz Jackson presented Local 2068 President John Niemiec with a custom-painted helmet. “We were extremely proud to put forth the extra effort for this year’s campaign and are grateful for the overwhelming response,” says Joe Kobersteen, event organizer and spokesperson for Local 2068. Liz Jackson, Hero to Hero’s founder, was unable to be as involved in this year’s campaign due to health reasons.   Jackson, however, was able to attend a May 24, 2008, press event held by Local 2068 at the close of the T-shirt collection drive. In a show of appreciation, Jackson gave Local 2068 a custom-painted fire helmet. Meanwhile, because of the ongoing success of the program, Jackson appointed Kobersteen as the East Coast Ambassador for Hero to Hero. Beginning in 2009, he will be responsible for organizing the entire East Coast efforts.