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CNN Sunday Morning

America's Children Are Reaching Out to Those Affected by Terrorist Attacks

Aired September 30, 2001 - 10:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A destruction that devastated the world on September 11 tore at the souls of Americans but it also touched them. From individual donations to national telethons, Americans are reaching out to those affected by the acts of evil. Even news organizations like CNN are hearing from viewers who want to contribute in some way to the families and victims and the relief efforts underway to rebuild New York.

This past week, CNN received a letter that touched our hearts and we want to show it with you because we have a feeling it will touch and inspire all of you also.

This is what the letter says: "To The Families, Friends of the WTC Disaster, Hello, my name is Breonia Kaye Thurman. I'm 8 years old and I go to school at Albany Elementary School in Clinton County, Kentucky. I've been watching and praying for the victims' families of the disaster to be able to return safely to their homes and families.

While I've been watching TV on the events taking place, I feel very sad for all the lives that have been lost and feel upset that people could be so cold-hearted and destroy innocent peoples' lives.

I wish I could help you and be with you, but I live far away from you. I wish I could send clothes for all the people and some food. God bless America. I love you.

P.S. I'd like to give you a dollar to help with the relief for the families and victims of the attack. This dollar is my allowance from my father for the week of September 10 through the 15. It's all I have to give right now. I wish I had more money to give. I'll work hard this week so I can send some more."

Joining us from Bowling Green, Kentucky is the author of that letter, Breonia Kaye Thurman and her mother, Teresa. Good morning you two.

TERESA THURMAN: Good morning.

PHILLIPS: Breonia, what a beautiful letter. Thank you so much for sharing that with us.

BREONIA KAYE THURMAN: You're welcome.

PHILLIPS: Well, why don't you tell me what you saw on TV, Breonia, that made you want to write this letter?

B. THURMAN: I saw the planes crash the buildings.

PHILLIPS: And when you saw that happen, what was your first reaction?

B. THURMAN: I felt like I needed to send something to make them feel better.

PHILLIPS: So what did you do? Did you go grab a pen and a pencil and a piece of paper or did you ask your mom for stationary? What did you do?

B. THURMAN: I got a pencil and I asked my mom if she would help me.

PHILLIPS: And did she help you out?

B. THURMAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Mom, what was your first when your daughter told you she was writing this letter?

TERESA THURMAN: Well, it was kind of hard for me to realize what she was doing because I didn't know it until later on when she needed help with like the spelling. I mean it shocked me. It really did.

PHILLIPS: So...

T. THURMAN: I didn't know an eight-year-old could feel that way.

PHILLIPS: Tell me about your daughter. Has she ever responded like this to any type of tragedy?

T. THURMAN: No, she's never wrote any letters before. But when things are -- she watches things on TV, she responds by talking about it and she asks us a lot of questions. She's a loving person.

PHILLIPS: Has she always had such a kind heart?

T. THURMAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: So she came to you and showed you a letter and then -- or did you help her construct what she wanted to say?

T. THURMAN: No, she brought the letter and asked if I would help her with the words that were misspelled. But I did not look very close at the letter. So I didn't really know what she had exactly wrote.

PHILLIPS: So Breonia, when you -- when you wrote this letter and you showed it to your mom, I know you also included a dollar. Tell me what you hope that dollar will go toward. Why did you want to include money?

B. THURMAN: For the people so they can get something to eat. PHILLIPS: How did you know that they didn't have food?

B. THURMAN: Because all their houses had gotten destroyed.

PHILLIPS: And a lot of kids had been affected by this also, a lot of other children your age, eight years old. What do you want to say to them right now?

B. THURMAN: I want to say I'm sorry that everything happened.

PHILLIPS: And are you working to save more allowance to send to the rescue workers and to the relief groups?

B. THURMAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: What are you doing to earn that money?

B. THURMAN: I'm helping my dad work in the garden.

PHILLIPS: Yes, what else?

B. THURMAN: I'm helping him out in the yard.

PHILLIPS: So Breonia, if you were sent to New York to help out these people, what would be the first thing that you'd do?

B. THURMAN: I was going to sing to them.

PHILLIPS: I want to ask your mother another question about your efforts, Breonia, and that is how did your daughter affect your community, affect her classmates? What was everybody saying when they found out about this letter because I know it's a very small community that is where you live?

T. THURMAN: Everyone was really excited. But like her teachers and everyone that knew her, they weren't surprised that Breonia would do something like this. I mean she's always been outgoing in efforts like this. And she's caring.

PHILLIPS: You should be very proud, Teresa. And Breonia, we salute your efforts and you've inspired all of us. And we want you to keep up your letter writing and that generous heart of yours, OK?

T. THURMAN: OK.

PHILLIPS: Does that sound good, Breonia?

B. THURMAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: All right, and thank you Mom for your support too. All right, Breonia and Teresa Thurman. A wonderful story to share with us this morning.

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