HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER
This Sunday as summer quickly comes to an end many families will be getting in their last bit of summer fun. Maybe a day at the beach, or even a trip to the park. Many on Staten Island will be bringing their kids for a ride on the Carousel at Willowbrook Park.
One person in particular will be making a trip to the Carousel but it will not be to enjoy the day. You see Sunday would have been Christopher Damiano’s third birthday. Unfortunately he is not here to celebrate this special day. On March 17, 2006 little Christopher was killed when the TV set in his home accidentally fell from its stand. So at 1:00 pm on Sunday Christopher’s mom Kelly will make a trip to the Carousel to celebrate what would have been his third birthday. She will bring balloons and release butterflies to celebrate his short life.
Kelly will not be alone she will be surrounded by family and friends. She will also be joined in spirit by over 25 families who have lost their children in similar accidents over the past 5 years.
Kelly is doing this not only to celebrate Christopher’s birthday but also once again to try to raise public awareness of how Congress continues to ignore the fact that children continue to die in these types of accidents while a bill (HR Bill 1861) that would help prevent them sits stalled in committee ignored by all but 45 members.
Shortly after Christopher’s death we held a press conference at this very Carousel to make others aware and try to get some members of Congress to sign on in support of the bill. Unfortunately all we got were unfulfilled promises that things would be done. Congressional press releases were sent about holding hearings but nothing was done.
We went to our local Senators but nothing was done.
We wrote and faxed every member of Congress and you guessed it nothing was done. Not one member of Congress has signed on as a sponsor since April 27.
And while nothing was being done two more children have died in similar accidents. The sad thing is that had their parents known about HR Bill 1861 or had Congress acted these children might be enjoying a day at the park this Sunday. Instead their parents now only have them in their memories and their hearts.
So this Sunday we will join Kelly and celebrate Christopher’s third birthday. We will also celebrate the short lives of all those lost in these types of accidents and we hope that someone in Congress will have the courage to put political and financial concerns aside and stand up for what is right.
Hopefully someone in Congress will speak on our behalf and get this bill passed. They should know by now that we will not rest until they do.
Dennis