June 10, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Firefighter Run and U.S. Postal Service Presentation to Commemorate Nine Month Anniversary of 9-11

When firefighter recruits finish their ten-mile run tomorrow that traditionally marks the end of their 16-weeks of basic training, they will take time to recognize the events of September 11.

The run, scheduled to coincide with the nine-month anniversary of 9-11, will end with a ceremony where the U.S. Postal Service will unveil and present a two-by-three foot framed print of their new "Heroes of 2001" stamp to the Fire Department. The run is scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. from the Fire Academy, 6440 Greenwood Road, and conclude at the Fire and Police Memorial on Clyde Fant Parkway sometime before 9:30 a.m.

The collector’s edition stamp, recently unveiled by the Postal Service, honors the victims and rescuers of 9-11. The stamp features the now famous photograph of the three Fire Department of New York firefighters raising an American Flag amongst the rubble of the destroyed World Trade Centers. Scheduled to present the print to Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran is Shreveport Post Master Patsy Pigue. The presentation will be followed by a rendition of "God Bless America." The Postal Service will also have rolls of the new stamps on hand at the event.

This is the Shreveport Fire Department’s 47^th Basic Training Class and the fourth to make the grueling run. The recruits will travel along Greenwood Road for most of their run until reaching Texas Street. From there, they will head east into downtown Shreveport onto Crockett Street, passing in front of Central Fire Station, and then finishing at the Memorial. As in years past, the recruits again have sponsors for the run who have pledged donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). ###