WHERE IT ALL STARTED

The beginning, of course, was that horrible day of September 11, 2001. The shockwaves of the tragedy ripped through New York City, Washington, and Pennsylvania and spread all across the country and around the world. Mel Barth, chaplain and former police officer, from Normal, Illinois, was burdened to go to New York City to encourage, pray, and help where needed. While there, Mel was invited on Thursday, September 27, to visit Ground Zero and speak with the workers on site...

THE NEXT STEP

Brad Barth, partner of Trace Design Studio and brother of Mel, heard of Mel's opportunity to speak at Ground Zero and felt compelled to express his feelings about the courageous men and women continuously working at the site. A graphic artist and painter, also from Bloomington/Normal, Brad created the Heroes of Ground Zero artwork to send to his brother the next day. Mel was able to present two banners, one to NYPD Commander Mike Quinn and one to the workers at Ground Zero...

AT GROUND ZERO

The response was overwhelming! The men not only appreciated the honor of the image but the fact that fellow Americans cared enough to come from Central Illinois just to encourage them. In appreciation, they began to sign the banner so Mel could take it back to Illinois so people there could pray for them. From then on, Mel couldn't give the banners away fast enough...

THE MISSION

Mel and Brad developed a mission to hand-deliver a banner to every Police Station, Firehouse, and Port Authority office that lost personnel in the Sept. 11 attacks. They achieved that mission by returning every weekend to NYC to deliver banners sponsored by local individuals and businesses.

Posters were printed by Illinois Graphics to provide a way for people to join in our mission of letting our heroes know we haven't forgotten about them. Because we haven't. God bless America & NYC!

COMFORT * ENCOURAGE * HONOR