—– Original Message —–
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 9:47 PM
Subject: Eddie Eagle: A Good Program for Youngsters

Vermont now has an Eddie Eagle costume available for use during
teaching the program. There are also instructional booklets for the
Eddie Eagle program in Vermont. Contact me for info.
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http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/stories/20040826/localnews/
1117197.html
Getting the message out Firearms safety program planned for area schools

By JAMES WALKER
Norwich Bulletin

MONTVILLE — Tasha Epley was playing outside her home when she spotted
a gun lying in a neighbor’s yard two years ago. Under different
circumstances, the curiosity of the Mohegan Elementary School student
might have prompted her to pick the gun up and inspect it.

But she remembered a valuable lesson she learned through the Eddie
Eagle Firearm Safety Program: “Stop, don’t touch, move out of the area
and tell an adult.”

“It was a loaded .22-caliber revolver,” said Lt. Leonard Brunnell of
the Montville Police Department. “She remembered the steps and alerted
an adult. She’s living proof the program works.”

Teaching children about the dangers of firearms will be a high
priority in elementary schools this fall.

The Firearm Safety Program will be back in classes this year when
students return to school. The program is underwritten by a grant
through the National Rifle Association, Brunnell said.

Eddie Eagle will teach the same lesson to kindergartners and
first-graders as he did to Epley, Brunnell said. Epley was issued a
certificate of recognition from the police department for her
awareness.

“Just like Smokey the Bear warned about forest fires, Eddie the Eagle
will warn children about the dangers of guns,” he said.

Superintendent of Schools David Erwin said the program was piloted
three years ago but was put on hold last year when the number of police
officers in the community dwindled.

“They didn’t have the resources to come to the school to do it,” he
said. “We’ve been very supportive about the program.”

The program will be offered at Mohegan, Charles Murphy and Oakdale
elementary schools. The five-day, 15 minute sessions are simple and
centered around easy lessons and includes a workbook.

Officer David Riley, who is the DARE officer in the public schools,
will schedule the classes on the same day he teaches older students
about the dangers of drugs.

William Hull, assistant superintendent of schools, was principal at
Oakdale Elementary School when the firearm program started. It was
spurred by an incident involving two children with a gun that left one
of them dead, he said.

“A local police officer came and talked to me,” Hull said. “He was
upset and wanted to do something.”

The program was initiated with grant money from Pfizer, Hull said.

Brunnell said escalating gun violence sends a “dark message” and many
parents wanted some type of safety awareness program for children.

“This is our attempt to get the message out,” he said.