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 Joel 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.