9/11 Tour RV Rolls Into Portsmouth
Mon Sep 12, 2011
Author: Joey Cresta
Source: Seacoast Online
Ted Boisvert, a retired fire lieutenant, rides his Harley-Davidson as the 9/11 tour bus makes a stop at Fire Station 1 in Portsmouth as part of its national tour.
PORTSMOUTH - A bold fire-orange bus rolled up at the Fire Station 1 on Court St. Thursday with a mission to raise funds for three Sept. 11-related charities.
Firefighters and a small crowd of residents gathered outside the station to catch a glimpse of the bus, owned by retired California firefighter Craig Freeman and his wife, Pam.
Pam Freeman said the family renovated its 38-foot-long recreational vehicle into a bus to tour the country in an effort to raise awareness for the company they founded, Perfect Firefighter Candidate/Firecareers.com.
The promotional tour grew into something bigger when their close friend, Brett Hill, founder of the 9/11 Patch Project, asked them to represent him in New York City on the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Freeman said.
Since they set off from Manchester Beach, Calif., on Jan. 25, the couple has traveled 13,000 miles, all the while raising awareness and funds for several charities that the 9/11 Patch Project is supporting, Freeman said. She said they have raised thousands by selling patches, decals and other items, though an exact amount was not available.
Proceeds are all going to the FDNY Bravest Scholarship Fund, the Terry Farrell Fund and the Feel Good Foundation.
Among those in attendance was Portsmouth resident Ethel Konesky, who said her son, Sean Herrmann, worked for a "hazmat" team that responded to Ground Zero immediately following the attacks.
"I was go glad it came. I can't wait to get these (pictures) on my computer and Facebook so my son can see them," she said. "I saw it in the paper this morning and said, 'Gee, I've got to see that because it really is close to my heart.'"
Additional Information: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110901-NEWS-110909967
