Patriotism in the Form of Beads, Love and Innocence: A Project That Spans the Ages

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a normal late summer day like any other. The family was trying to get into the routine of school starting and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

September 11, 2001, began as any other day in our home. The alarm went off, breakfast was eaten, lunches packed. At a little after 8 am, my oldest son and I set off for the bus stop across the street, smiling and laughing at the sunny September weather. My son teased me about "getting older", and was I going to spend my gift certificates on "old lady clothing"? You see, September 11th was my Birthday and I felt nothing could ruin my plans for a "me day"! That is, until we heard the news.

I like many Americans, brushed off the news of the first attack on the World Trade Center as an "accident". A plane gone astray, as it were. I wondered though, even then, if it could be more, but not wanting to upset the kids at the bus stop with questions, I kept up the light hearted banter with them over classes, crushes and "cool" stuff, until at long last the bus came.

Waving the kids off, I rushed back across the street to inform my husband about the events unfolding before our eyes. We watched as the news came in about the 2nd tower to be hit, the attack on the Pentagon, the crash in Pennsylvania and the fleeing of the WTC. My husband, unable to delay work any longer, left me with our 3 year old, to watch history unfolding before my very eyes. I was horrified to say the least, as were most who witnessed this unprecedented event.

As I sat glued to the TV, my youngest came up to me, jolting me out of my shock with his innocent words. "The plane boomed into the building. the planes are all gone! Are you OK Mommy? Please don't cry!" As he climbed onto my lap, lying his silky head on my shoulder, reaching out as it were for comfort, it dawned on me that over 2 hours had passed and soon I would face the task of explaining this event to my oldest son.

My oldest son was then 8 years old, a 3rd grader in a nice public school where the principal sincerely cares for his students. I did not worry about him learning "too much" at school. I was confident the Principal had only told them details on a "need to know" basis. In the next few hours I would have to come up with answers, not just for him but for myself as well. I would have to dry my tears and put on my Mommy cap and help my son cope with what lay ahead.

I gathered around me the basic facts...that we knew 4 planes had been on "suicide missions", that 3 succeeded and 1 failed. I shut off the TV at about 2:30 and spent the next 40 minutes calming myself down and praying for guidance.

As my son got off the bus, at first glance the kids seemed the same as always, noisy, laughing and happy. Until I saw my son. His first words upon meeting me outside was "what happened?" Without another word I drew him into an embrace and we walked into the house together, for once he did not shy away from a "public display of affection" and in fact, held my hand in a tight, frightened grip.

We sat down at the kitchen table, backpack and schoolbooks forgotten in the hall, and I began to explain the events of the day. In simple terms I informed him of the facts, no gruesome details and no rumors, just facts.

He listened with rapt attention, far exceeding his actual age, and when I ended my speech he sat for a few minutes in total silence, the antique mantel clock being the only noise in the room. Looking me straight in the eye, he stated. "I want to do something...some of my friends are scared and I want to help"! We gathered up some patriotic craft items and began thinking of a way he could help.

After searching for a bit, my son announced he had the "perfect idea"! He decided to make simple beaded bracelets. He used red, white and blue pony beads and elastic string. The idea was so simple it was beautiful! As he began constructing the bracelets for his classmates he discussed with me his reasons behind the bracelets. He said by wearing the bracelets it would show everyone who saw them, that the person wearing it was NOT afraid to show his/her love for the United States....that he/she was proud to be an American! Suddenly he became silent and I looked up. Seeing his deep brown eyes so serious, I asked him what was wrong. He then told me that the bracelets needed "one thing more, the wearer had to "pinkie swear" that he/she would not remove the bracelet until the parties responsible were apprehended. I nodded and reached my hand to him, pinkie outstretched. In silence we sealed our belief in this project, in each other and in the U.S.

What began as a simple project of 25 bracelets for his classmates grew into a project of over 2000 bracelets made and distributed through the first few months after the attacks. Persons from all walks of life began wearing these bracelets, kids, teachers, parents, blue collar workers, construction workers, sales clerks, Doctors, Nurses, Secretaries, T.V. Reporters, Cameramen, World War II Veterans, Vietnam Veterans, Korean War Veterans, Desert Storm Veterans, Army National guard, State Troopers, Sheriffs Deputies, Emergency room workers, Firemen, Emergency workers, School Principals, College students, Real Estate Agents, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Troup Leaders, Senior Citizens and even pre-school aged children, and even some Air force pilots now stationed in the Mid East are still proudly wearing these bracelets upon their wrists.

It seems everyday I saw more and more people proudly sporting these bracelets. The torch has been picked up by scout groups, church clubs and even senior citizen groups. One group of Alzheimer patients began diligently constructing these bracelets, proud of their ability to show their patriotism in such a simple way!

That is not to say that all who have received these bracelets still wear them. Just as not all who began wearing ribbons and flying flags are still doing so, some bracelets have been abandoned as well. But for every bracelet, which has been abandoned, it seems 10 others have sprung up in its place. The stores within a 60 mile radius of our home cannot keep these beads in stock, it seems everyone wants to make some and hand them out, complete with the "pinkie swear" that goes with the bracelet.

Someone was even so impressed with this simple show of patriotism that he or she contacted a local T.V. station, who in turn did a small story on my son and his bracelets. This garnered even more interest, and the desire for the bracelets still goes on. A newspaper wrote a piece as well which only served to further fuel the "patriotic fire" behind these bracelets.

I write this story today to share with you the simple story of how one young boy took things into his own hands and in the construction of simple beaded bracelets, accomplished several things. One: he took "action" during a troubling time...and in his own way. A way that felt "right" to him...not to anyone else but to him. A way that meant something then and means something now, over 6 years later. Two: he felt more in control over the times around him by constructing these bracelets...they gave him a "positive" to relate to in a "negative" time...and three: he gave "hope" to others through his bracelets.
And Three: by constructing these bracelets and giving them away he was giving not just bracelets on a string but hope.

You see, I didn't realize how very much he had touched others until one day shortly after the news story, when I was at a local mall. Across the parking lot, running toward me, came a man. I had no idea who he was or what he wanted but for some reason I wasn't afraid. As he neared me he breathlessly asked if I knew the boy who had made the bracelets and could I tell him where he could get one. I replied that the boy was my son and that I would give him one right now! He then went on to tell me that the previous night he had been very depressed and down over the unending bad news of the attacks and almost didn't watch the news, but for some reason he switched it on telling his wife that he needed something "good". Then came the story of my son. After it was over he turned to his wife and stated, "I can go on now. I can get through this. If an 8 year old boy can have hope then so can I! I am going to get one of those bracelets, I HAVE to have one!" His wife was guarded and reminded her husband that he knew NOTHING about my son, where he lived or how to get one. But the husband refused to listen.

And then he saw me in the parking lot! For though the city I was in is large and the mall remote, for some reason we were both there at the same time on a Friday morning...he looked at me...saw the bracelet and KNEW I could help him obtain one. And I was NOT afraid of him! Chance, you might ask? I don't think so and neither does the man...he swears it is because of my son's bracelets which he says have "HOPE" in them and the fact that at that time in his life, he needed one so badly. He swears that through finding and wearing this bracelet that he was given a precious gift by my son, the HOPE to go on and to have faith that good will prevail.

So my message is this. If an 8 year old child could give hope to a grown man (and to over 2000 others as well) with 11 cents of beads and string then we as Americans can FIND hope as well! Find it in the flag, in red, white and blue or in any form that moves you. Most of all, listen to your children...they have something to say about the events unfolding around us and maybe they too need, like my son, to feel as if "they helped"! though we may never be able to answer the question of "why" this happened, we can help children understand how we (and ultimately THEY) have helped.)

As a very intelligent man recently said, "we need to give children something positive to remember this time in our country by, not negative. We need to help them find a way to cope" Help your child to find that way in which he or she can help. Design a project or "take up the torch" and create these bracelets. They have traveled across state lines in the 2 months since the attacks and have been made by many but there is still a need for more!

Though it is a simple, inexpensive project, it is one that has filled and continues to fill a need for children today. So if you choose to create this project know that you have a lot of others behind you all the way. Remember this is for the kids! They are quiet victims in all of this and we need to be there for them in any way we can!

God Bless and Stay Safe!