In what has become an annual tradition, a group of local firefighters and American Legion members will travel to Iowa next month to help victims of disaster, much the way they were helped in the days following Hurricane Katrina.

In the months after Aug. 29, 2005, firefighters, church groups, civic organizations and private individuals poured into the area from all over the country, offering extraordinary help and generosity to those in need. A large contingent made several trips to Slidell to help rebuild the home of the late Tony Nata, a six-year-old boy battling cancer.

That’s when Erik Kreppein, an inspector with St. Tammany Fire District 1 learned about the New York Says Thank You Foundation.

Erik Kreppein of FD1, left, is pictured with Larry Johnson, center, of Red Oak, Texas, and Mike Vincelette, also of Slidell, during a trip to Greenburg, Kan., in 2008 when they helped rebuild a 4-H pavilion destroyed by a tornado. Since 2006, the Slidell firefighters have traveled with the New York Says Thank You Foundation to various areas struck by disaster, to repay the help received from volunteers around the country after Hurricane Katrina.

Each year on the anniversary of 9/11, the foundation sends New York City firefighters and other volunteers to help communities around the country struck by disaster. Many of them are survivors of the World Trade Center attacks, and engage in the projects as a way of extending their gratitude for the support and kindness that New Yorkers received in those grim days.

“I tell you, it was like a godsend seeing those big fire trucks from places like New York and Chicago rolling into town,” said Kreppein. “We feel like we were helped tremendously by firefighters from all over the country, so we want to spread that spirit of helping others.”

A few members of FD1 and the Slidell Firefighters Association got on board the following year, and headed to Indiana to help rebuild a chapel in a small town demolished by a tornado.

In 2007, FD1 Chief Larry Hess instructed one person from each shift to travel with the group, which traveled to Texas to help a family of tornado survivors rebuild their home.

In 2008 it was Kansas, although the numbers were small due to Hurricane Gustav pummeling the area. On Sept. 2, the group will go to Little Sioux, Iowa, where last June an F-3 tornado ripped through a scout camp, killing four young Eagle Scouts and injuring dozens.

This year two members of each shift from FD1 will be part of the delegation, as will members of Fire District 7 in Pearl River, the Slidell Firefighters Association and American Legion Post 374.

Kreppein said volunteers and individuals helped from each of the previous projects would most likely participate—indeed, paying it forward.

There will also be a ceremonial tree planting in memory of young Nata, who lost his battle with cancer in 2007.

Sponsorships are needed to help defray costs, as the volunteers will travel in their personal vehicles and secure their own lodging. For more information, contact Kreppein at 788-6294 or 645-0541.