By Christine Curella (NJ ’07)

Last month, Truman Scholars in Washington, DC, came together to participate in the National Day of Service and Remembrance, a day to remember and honor those lost on September 11, 2001, through volunteerism and community service. Our team, dubbed “Harryed Hands”, joined senior citizens at The Washington Home, a comfort care center that provides long-term services for elderly residents and their families. Our task: to interview residents about September 11 and contribute their stories to the oral histories compiled by StoryCorps and preserved at the Library of Congress.

Tia Trout-Perez (KY ’01) and I spoke with Mr. Washington, who remembered watching the coverage on the news and feeling sadness. In other cases, our conversations roamed to other memories that the residents had.  For Irene, interviewed by JoAnna Smith (IA ’07), speaking about September 11 led to stories of her life in Berlin. Marie, who had been a nurse in DC, shared the story of a friend who had lost three children and two godchildren.  I was at the World Trade Center, on my way to an international fashion show, the culmination of my first job in the Garment District and my years at a vocational high school for the needle trades in New York City.

Some of the stories were sad.  Some were inspirational and funny, with the residents sharing advice and letting us learn from their life experiences.  Knowing that these stories would be contributed to our oral histories and shared with others was elevating. But I only fully realized the importance of our efforts in my conversation with Annabelle, a native of Queens, New York, who had worked at Voice of America in the 1950s. For Annabelle, stories—such as the ones we were collecting—are how we communicate ideas , and also compassion.  The Trumans of Harryed Hands thank the residents of The Washington home for teaching us a little about both.

Christine Curella (NJ ’07) works at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and loves organizing events with Truman Scholars in the Washington, DC area.

Harryed Hands volunteers included Katherine Blaisdell (HI ’08), Matthew Garza (CA ’09), Amber Herman (TN ’06), Sheila Korth (NE ’07), Eleanor Ott (KS ’08), Patrick Reimherr (UT ’09), JoAnna Smith (IA ’07), Tia Trout-Perez (KY ’01), Tish Scolnik (NY ’09), Caitie Whelan (ME ’07).