Wednesday, October 10, 2001
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Wednesday, October 10, 2001 |
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Project Two Feet for America helps J.C. Booth students cope with terrorist attacks
During the days following the terrorist attacks, Claire McLean, a teacher at J.C. Booth Middle School, says she prayed extensively for a project she could bring to the school that would benefit her students emotionally and make them feel as if they were doing something worthwhile for the victims. It was not long before an idea for a project came to her. The idea was to make a chain of red, white and blue cloth that would stretch as far as the eye can see. Every morning before home room, about 20-30 students show up at McLean's classroom to tie together two-feet-long strips of red, white and blue cloth to make the chain. Each piece of material represents one life that was lost as a result of the terrorist attacks. Not only does the chain represent the victims, it also conveys other messages as well. "Each piece of material represents the two feet that we will stand on to fight terrorist acts and rebuild this country. Each piece will represent our pride in America. Each piece will represent the fact that we are a strong, resilient nation and we will get through this one step at a time, one piece of material at a time," McLean explained. When the chain is complete, there will be a link for every victim who died during the attacks. The current victim count is 7,104. Although students have a long way to go, McLean says that they will meet their goal. The students average tying about 200 links each day. "This is something that the kids are doing on their own. I'm not helping; I'm just here and they are doing it all," she said. Since Two Feet for America cannot interfere with classroom time, students have to arrive at the school at 7:45 a.m., about 40 minutes earlier than they would normally have to be there for the start of school. Although it is an early start, McLean says the students are happy to be a part of the project and have put an amazing amount of energy into it. McLean keeps a sign-in sheet each day in order to log each student who donates his or her time. "I come down here every morning to help because I am not able to help in any other way. I am too young to give blood or go to New York City, so this is what I do," said eighth-grader Ashley Hartt. In order to get enough material to make the links, the students have been placing flyers around Peachtree City asking the community to donate cloth for the cause. Many parents have been actively involved in the project as well by soliciting cloth donations and cutting strips. Everyday material continues to pour into the school as more people learn about the project. "I have a friend at Delta that has a box where donated material is being given. Some senior citizens dropped off some material the other day. The response has been great," McLean said. A friend of McLean's whose aunt served in World War II donated the very first strip of material. The piece of cloth came from a skirt the aunt had worn during the war. Students at J.C. Booth still need over 5,000 strips of red, white or blue material to finish making the chain. The school asks that donations be cut into two-foot by four-inch strips. The cloth can be dropped off at J.C. Booth during school hours. In order to help the community keep track of how the cloth chain is coming, sixth-grader Stacey Gardner has created a Web site, www.expage.com/projecttwofeet, where visitors can get information about the project, learn how they can donate material and keep up with how close the students are to reaching their goal. After the chain is complete, it will be sent to New York City and Washington, D.C. McLean says she is looking for people who can help her get the chain to the two cities. To help, phone McLean at 770-631-3240.
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