BY JULIE WIATT

Officer Eric Mueller:
“Probably my family,
my parents and aunts
and uncles, the whole
family. I'm thankful for
them being there,
watching over me,
instilling ethics or working
hard to get what you want.
We're a strong-knit
family. Each tries to help
the other.”

Stan Katzman: “I’d like to thank my great grandfather Bers for coming to America. He had a baker in Poland. He fired an employee who was so mad that he burned down the bakery. He chose to come to the US instead of rebuild the bakery. Maybe I should thank the guy who burned down the bakery.”

Tom Mason: “My grandparents. They were the ones who immigrated here. They were thrown out of Germany by Hitler, but I can’t thank Hitler. The next generations had a hard time, but I have it wonderful.”

Bernie Moorin: “My father, for getting on the boat Russia to the US.” He was late for everything else, but in time for that.

Melvin Mason: “I’d have to say my parents, for all they’ve done over the years for me, for all the support they’ve given me.”

Phil Acosta: “I’d like to thank my Dad. He’s the one who gave me appreciation for baseball and all things simple.”

Jay Danner-McDonald (with Karis): “Mohamed El Baradei, who won a Nobel Peace Prize recently for nuclear arms prevention.”

Linda Miller and Eunice Finch: [simultaneously] " My mother."
Linda: "...and my father. They both encouraged me.
Eunice: "I wouldn't be where I am today without my mother. My parents were divorced, so my mother raised me."