300 New York firefighters will serve as ambassadors of thanks

NEW YORK - A group of U.S. mayors said Friday that firefighters from New York City&#39;s 300 firehouses will travel across the country in March to thank the American people for their support in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. <br> <br> The announcement was made at the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which for the first time split its annual meeting between Washington and New York. The mayors took an Amtrak train to New York Thursday after spending two days in Washington. <br> <br> The 300 firefighters will be chosen by lottery, and one from each fire company along with a guest will visit one of 300 designated cities. They are to travel on the weekend of March first. <br> <br> Serving as ``ambassadors&#39;&#39; of thanks, the firefighters will bring mementoes from their firehouses as well as New York City to the cities they visit. <br> <br> Also Friday, New York&#39;s newly elected Mayor Michael Bloomberg thanked his colleagues for their help in the aftermath of September eleventh. <br> <br> Bloomberg said, ``I can truly say that the people of each of your cities have united behind the task of helping New York City get back on its feet.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Bloomberg singled out a couple of mayors for special thanks, including Mayor Bob Young of Augusta, Georgia. Augusta donated one million dollars to the relief fund.

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