By Deone Roberts
AU Sport Development Manage

A few members of American Racing Pigeon Union expressed a desire to pay tribute to the
victims and survivors of the September 11 tragedy with what they knew best, their birds.

Here the members share their experiences of that day.

Randall Carney and Bill Lightell, of the Omaha Racing Pigeon Association, teamed up with the Omaha Fire Department and the Woodmen of the World Insurance Company for two separate tributes.

The Woodmen Company was thrilled to pair with the bird release and plans have been discussed to continue the releases with Woodmen offices around the country. Woodmen traditionally presents United States flags to schools and youth groups, which may be another possibility for accompaniment by bird releases.

The News Herald newspaper, in Morganton, North Carolina, featured images of various tributes around the county. Charles Willers, a retired firefighter with the New York Fire Department and Vice President of the Catawba Valley Racing Pigeon Club, released birds during one of the memorials , which was held at Heritage Middle School in Morganton.

Tom Blood, of the Coronado Racing Pigeon Club in El Cajon , California, coordinated simultaneous releases with the Greater San Diego Alpine Senior Citizen Centers. Tom shared that it was a very moving experience for him. An elementary school near one of the centers asked that the release be close enough for them to view also. He could hear over 300 students conducting patriotic cheers and they went wild as the birds were released. During the media coverage he received, Tom was able to offer information about the history of the pigeons and why it meant so much to be able to do the release as a respectful gesture.

Leo Eiffert and Tom Lattimer conducted 13 releases in thirteen southern California communities, from Santa Ana to Fillmore. They coordinated with the Chambers of Commerce, Super A Store sites and Police and Fire Departments in each community. The volunteer staff was from the California Country Music Association.

Each brief tribute included a silent twenty-one white homing pigeon release, (representative of a twenty-one gun salute). Leo and Tom graciously enlisted boys and girls of all ages and ethnicities to release the birds. Local clubs supplied the birds and release times were coordinated to be simultaneous releases at each location. Afterward they observed one minute of silence. A total of 3,056 additional homing pigeons were released, as representation for each victim killed in the tragedy Each bird received an ID tag representing a victim.

After contacting Leo and Tom, the White House plans to send a ceremonial version of the
President's Patriot Day Proclamation as a souvenir. It was read at all 13 tribute locations, by
various citizens, firefighters and police officers.

Two additional special pigeons were released after the mass release. The first was memory of all the POW and MIA Americans throughout our history, dating back to the American Revolution. The second bird was in memory of all the other American Citizens lost in recent times, such as the U.S. Embassy bombings, the first attack at the World Trade Center in 1993 and for the Oklahoma City Murrah Building bombing. The bird's chest was marked "OK" for Oklahoma

Genie McGee, from the Mid South Flyers Racing Pigeon Club in Mississippi, conducted a release during the City of Horn Lake's service of remembrance. After the release, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Genie received letters from the city and the memorial organizations for her contribution.
Each declared the releases impressive and significant during the emotional occasion.

Each of these people who shared their experiences with the AU told us how much the communities appreciated their thoughtful gesture. None of these releases were done for profit or notoriety, but simply out of a desire to demonstrate respect in a moving display.

Our heartfelt thanks go to those who paid their respects on Patriot Day.