Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe THANK YOU, AMERICA A group of firefighters from New York City's Engine Co. Nine/Ladder Co. 33 -- which lost 10 colleagues in the World Trade Center -- left Sunday on a cross-country "Thank You America" bicycle tour. The firefighters plan to thank Americans for their support. Advertisement Eight from the Manhattan firehouse will pedal first to the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., site of the second terrorist attack on Sept. 11. From there, four more will continue the 2,757 -mile trip through the southern United States to arrive in Los Angeles, the original destination for one of the flights that crashed into the World Trade Center. Upon arrival in Los Angeles, the firemen will ride to Pasadena's historic Old Firehouse. The firefighters are not raising money. They said they only want to thank as many people personally as they can. They'll be using their vacation time and paying for the trip themselves, which they said they hope will be a healing experience. Advertisement "We just want to give something back to the millions of Americans who have supported our efforts here in New York City following the World Trade Center attacks," said firefighter Danny Rowan, who organized the tour. "It is a way for the riders to express their appreciation for the outpouring of support that our stationhouse received from all across the U.S." MORE BIKER NEWS About 800 bikers from Washington, D.C. -- including Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., who claims to be the only member of Congress who's a biker -- roared up Broadway in Manhattan Sunday to show solidarity with the city. The bikers had asked what they could do to help New York City and police and firefighters told them to "come to New York and spend money." After the seven-hour trip, they laid a wreath of red roses at Saint John's Church, and then the bikers -- many spending the Veteran's Day weekend in the Big Apple -- planned to spend some money. NYC TOP COP'S NEW BOOK New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik has turned down an offer to continue serving under Mayor-elect Michael Bloomberg. Advertisement Kerik -- who had said he would leave with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in December --- called leaving "was probably one of the hardest decisions I've had to make in my life." "I love the department and the people who work in it," he told a news conference Friday. "But this department will get along without me." Meanwhile, Kerik's autobiography will be published Tuesday. Kerik said he finished writing "The Lost Son -- A Life in Pursuit of Justice" in the early hours of Sept. 11. At the urging of his publisher he included a final chapter on the events of that day that left 21 of his force killed and well as almost 380 firefighters and New York City Port Authority officers as well as thousands of civilians buried in the rubble of the World Trade Center. Kerik said he'll take his vacation this week to promote the book. REASONS TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK: MONDAY: Today through Nov. 18 is National Children's Book Week and Shallow Persons Awareness Week. This is a federal holiday (Veteran's Day) for federal employees. And members of the Baha'i faith celebrate the anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah, the religion's prophet-founder, in 1817. Advertisement TUESDAY: This is National Community Education Day. And today is World Kindness Day. (Web site: actsofkindness.org) WEDNESDAY: This is National American Teddy Bear Day. (Web site: VermontTeddyBear.com) It's also National Educational Support Personnel Day. (Web site: nea.org) Today is National Young Reader's Day. This is Re-Adjustment Movement's Day in Guinea-Bissau. It's Children's Day in India. And the five-day Hindu festival of lights known as Diwali begins today in India. THURSDAY: The Great American Smoke-out is today. Smokers are urged to kick the habit for at least one day. (Web site: cancer.org) This is America Recycles Day. (Web site: americarecyclesday.org) Today is George Spelvin Day. Ol' George is the name used in a play's program to conceal the fact that an actor is playing more than one part. It was on this date in 1886 in New York City that the fiction was first used -- in Charles A. Gardiner's play "Karl the Peddler." It's Dynasty Day in Belgium, honoring the country's monarchy. This is Republic Day in Brazil. And today Japan celebrates Shichi-Go-San, the annual children's festival. FRIDAY: Today through Nov. 22 is National Farm-City Week, by presidential proclamation. Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, begins today. All Muslim adults of sound mind and body fast from dawn until sunset to achieve spiritual and physical purification and self-discipline. Advertisement Saint Eustatius in the Leeward Islands celebrates Statia and America Day today. And the United Nations observes the International Day for Tolerance. (Thanks to Chase's 2001 Calendar of Events) BY THE WAY... He sculpted "The Kiss" and "The Thinker." Who? French sculptor Auguste Rodin, who was born on this date in 1840.
