More than 80 area children helped by first responders will wave small U.S. flags outside Qwest Center Omaha as guests arrive for Thursday's Firefighter & Police Appreciation Day luncheon.
“We needed something patriotic, and thought it would be great to have kids who have had positive experiences with firefighters and police officers participate,” said committee head Ron Brodkey. “Some of the kids wouldn't be here or wouldn't have family members still with them without the actions of a first responder, so they were a perfect choice.”
Brodkey and his committee canvassed local youth groups — the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire U.S.A., Girls Inc., and Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands — to find participants.
The children, known as Omaha's Grateful Kids, will be part of the opening procession, then retreat to a luncheon of their own with firefighters and police.
Flags honoring firefighters and police who have lost or given their lives in the line of duty will be part of the procession, along with a color guard. Sgt. Scott Wachter of the Omaha Fire Department and Sgt. David Volenec of the Omaha Police Department will sing the national anthem.
U.S. Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrence Gainer will be the keynote speaker. Gainer, who oversaw security at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 11, 2001, was a police officer in Washington, D.C., and a detective in Chicago. He comes from a long line of first responders.
He'll speak in front of a U.S. flag flown at Ground Zero after Sept. 11. The flag, considered a national treasure, travels with a personal escort.
The Millard West Wildcat Marching Band, which participated in the 2010 Rose Bowl Parade, will perform patriotic tunes outside the Qwest Center from 11 a.m. to noon.
“We are planning for a wonderful, respectful day to honor the men and women who help save lives every day,” Brodkey said.
On-duty personnel will get lunches, too
About 650 boxed lunches donated by Hy-Vee will be delivered to police precincts, training facilities, fire stations and police and fire headquarters Thursday.
It's a gesture of goodwill and appreciation for firefighters and police who will be working while the luncheon is in progress.
“We'll call each of the locations to see how many lunches are needed, and then a volunteer assigned to each territory will deliver the lunches,” said Ann Hergenrader, who is in charge of the delivery team. “I have two cousins who are police officers, so this is very special to me.”
According to Hergenrader, events coordinator at Creighton University, the boxed lunches will consist of a deli sandwich, potato chips, cookie and bottled water.
Volunteers also will deliver red, white and blue balloon bouquets donated by Nobbies to 60 fire and police locations in Omaha.
Testimonial video to cap luncheon
Cookie Hoberman has produced an 8-minute video as the grand finale for Thursday's luncheon.
The video, edited from more than six hours of interviews over several months, recounts personal experiences of 15 firefighters and police officers and five citizens helped by first responders.
News footage from KMTV and KETV as well as photographs from the Omaha World-Herald show first responders in action.
“It was a true labor of love for me because first responders came to my aid in Chicago when my 2-year-old grandson was accidentally locked in a bathroom,” Hoberman says.
Hoberman's husband, Jerry, conceived the idea of Omaha's Firefighter & Police Appreciation Day with Ray Somberg.
Early donations give foundation strong start
A newly established Firefighter and Police Appreciation Foundation has gathered more than $600,000 in corporate and individual donations heading into this week's inaugural appreciation events saluting Omaha's first responders.
The foundation, which raises funds for equipment and training, has issued grants for a “Skid Car” to prepare police officers for driving during poor road conditions and high-speed chases, and for 250 electronic location transmitters that send out signals to help locate endangered firefighters.
For more information or to donate, visit www.fireandpoliceappreciation.com
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