Until now, we haven't said much about where our bears are going. Because we want to honor the privacy of the people who are receiving bears, we don't tell anyone where a bear is going until we have permission from the recipient to share their story.
I'm breaking that rule today.
This morning, I heard on the news about the German Airbus crash in the French Alps. Stories of air disasters always hit me in the gut, but this one hit particularly hard when I learned that 16 students from Joseph Koenig Gymnasium in Haltern am See, Germany were aboard the plane. If you've read about the history of this organization, you know that it all started because of a stuffed bear sent to my high school after 16 of our students died aboard TWA Flight 800.
When bad things happen, many say, "I can't imagine what you're going through." But I can imagine what the students, parents and teachers of Joseph Koenig Gymnasium are feeling. I felt it 19 years ago. I remember it well today.
Tomorrow, we'll be sending a Traveling Bear to Joseph Koenig Gymnasium. Tonight, we send our prayers to Haltern, that its citizens may come together, to find solace in each other and peace on this tragic day.
I'm breaking that rule today.
This morning, I heard on the news about the German Airbus crash in the French Alps. Stories of air disasters always hit me in the gut, but this one hit particularly hard when I learned that 16 students from Joseph Koenig Gymnasium in Haltern am See, Germany were aboard the plane. If you've read about the history of this organization, you know that it all started because of a stuffed bear sent to my high school after 16 of our students died aboard TWA Flight 800.
When bad things happen, many say, "I can't imagine what you're going through." But I can imagine what the students, parents and teachers of Joseph Koenig Gymnasium are feeling. I felt it 19 years ago. I remember it well today.
Tomorrow, we'll be sending a Traveling Bear to Joseph Koenig Gymnasium. Tonight, we send our prayers to Haltern, that its citizens may come together, to find solace in each other and peace on this tragic day.