Mostly I remember that about a year after the fire most of the children in my dance class at Marches School of Dance on Pulaski Ave. all had scars. It was actually ok though because so many had scars that no mention was ever made of them and those children were just like everybody else. I never really spoke to anyone about it. The day of the fire all I remember... since, I lived at Hamlin and Division (about 2 blocks from the school) was the sound of ambulances and police going straight down Hamlin to get to the school. Another memory is just how few children were playing in the neighborhood after the fire, it seemed so many disappeared. The stories were horrific of a man who ran in to save children and had them hanging all over him, but that when he saw his own he could not pick him up. Children were already on his back and his legs hanging on. This is first time I have ever spoken of some of my memories...those children were beautiful and if there is one good thing to come out of this it is that never would they put kindergarten children high up in the school again (it's law now). Also multiple ways out,not one long hallway. May they all rest in peace.
I still feel sadness at the loss of such beautiful children. Hope this helps somebody by hearing how survivors were so well accepted at Dance School and never made to feel less.
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