Neighborly Tribute To Beloved Children¡¦s TV Icon
Children's writer and artist pens poem and designs shirts to honor Mr. Rogers.
FAIRFIELD, California, February 27, 2003 ¡V Children¡¦s writer and artist Troy Walker woke up to the news that a favored television icon, Fred Rogers, passed away. In honor of Mr. Rogers, Walker penned a beautiful, short and sweet poem, ¡§Hello Friend, There Goes The Neighborhood.¡¨
¡§I remember growing up with Mr. Rogers and I know my kids enjoyed watching and learning from him as well,¡¨ Walker said. ¡§He stood for children¡¦s educational programming and I¡¦d like to do something to help that cause.¡¨
¡§Mr. Rogers Neighborhood¡¨ aired for more than 30 years on public television. The final episode was taped in December 2000.
Walker and his partner, Jeanne Alford, developed a whimsical tee shirt design featuring his poem. He plans to sell the shirts directly via online marketing as well as to his many merchandising contacts. The colorful tees area available in primary colors: red, blue, green and yellow. Walker and Alford plan to donate 10 percent of all proceeds from the shirt to national public television organizations. They intend those donations to help fund production of more quality children¡¦s programming that Mr. Rogers exemplified.
¡§Troy is a creative soul and I could see he was touched by Mr. Rogers passing,¡¨ Alford said. ¡§It¡¦s great to work with someone that can take that emotional passion and develop an outlet to help others. I truly hope that American viewers and fans of Mr. Rogers are touched by Troy¡¦s poetic endeavor.¡¨
Hello Friend, There Goes The Neighborhood
Hello Friend from Far Away
I lost My Neighbor Yesterday
His Gentle Words
And Welcome Hands
Made Me Feel Like We Were Friends
He Made Me Laugh, He Made Me Smile
Helped Grown-ups See Through The Eyes of a Child.
I Heard He Left
Before the rain
On a Shiny Choo Choo Train.
He Left His Puppets of Cloth and Wood ¡V
There Goes The Neighborhood
Walker¡¦s poem is printed on the backs of tee shirts. According to Alford, the shirts are priced at $10.00 plus shipping and handling costs of $4.95, and come in children sizes (small, medium and large) and adult sizes from small to 4X.
Orders can be sent to Alford Communications at 1652 West Texas Street, Fairfield, California 94533. Checks can be made out to ¡§J. Alford¡¨. Include number of shirts, sizes and colors preferred. Shirt design can be viewed at http://www.geocities.com/alfordj2000/Mr_Rogers_Remembered.html.
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