Friday June 19th 2009 was a day out of the ordinary for Angelica Harris and Frankie Jannello, owner of Frankie’s Playce at the shops at Atlas Park. Harris and Jannello hosted their first ever Child Safety Day, sponsored by New York Life. The agents from the New York Life Insurance Company came with their state of the art computers, which photographed, profiled and fingerprinted children from infancy to 21 years of age. The morning session was open to the public and the afternoon was dedicated to Sacred Heart R.C. School.  The parents received a laminated card with the child’s photo, name, birth-date, parent or guardian’s name and a one-digit fingerprint. This vital card is designed to help the parents if the child were to get lost, get kidnapped or run away from home. The parent will have this ID card to present to the police to aid them in finding the child quicker than without a recent profile.

Child safety is one of the primary concerns of parents today. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEO), as many as one million children are reported missing every year.

“Many of these children are never seen again due to the fact that their parents do not have the vital information needed for the police and investigators to find their child,” said Harris, who is also the producer and director of the Hall of Imagination at Frankie’s Playce, where she hosts a weekly book club for kids. “If Frankie and I can help with the safety of a child by giving their parents the right tools to bring them home alive and safe, then that is the message we are bringing to our event.”

Members of Fire Education and Engine Company 319 showed up to teach children about safety during a fire.  J.P. DiTroia, President of Maspeth Kiwanis, came with Kiwally the Koala puppet, mascot of the Maspeth club, to entertain the children. Joe Iello, President of Glendale Kiwanis, came to lend support and Glendale club member Janet Falcone donated her treats from her business, Fun Stuff.  Fr. John Fullum, Pastor of Sacred Heart, Jack Seelly, and  Principal Joanne Gangi entered with some of the teaching staff. During the event, parents and children had the chance to look at the special art exhibits from the students at Sacred Heart.

Angelica and Frankie are proud that over 150 children received their special identification cards. It was a great day. This Friday, June 26th, both women are hosting another Child Safety event. Come and enjoy the fun!

Agent Makiko Bridgid Ito with parents and children on Child Safety Day.

Angelica Harris, Frankie Jannello, J.P. DiTroia, with Jack Seely and Agents from New York Life.

Angelica Harris, Frankie Janello, Fr. Fullum (Pastor Sacred Heart Church), a teacher and students.

Do you know that most children who are molested know their pedophiles? I do. Do you know that many children who suffer abuse in their own home are abused by a family member? I do. Do you know that most young girls and women know the person who assaults and rapes them? I can tell you I do.

I began a few years back to write a non-fiction book titled “Living With Rage,” and as I sat at my computer and wrote the first 20 pages, I found myself cringing about the memories I had suppressed for over 30 years. I could not even go back and edit the pages I had written.  It was that painful.

A month ago, I met some people from New York Life who work for the safety of children. They make sure that all children receive identification so that if—God forbid—they are kidnapped, lost, or run away from home, a parent or guardian will have the tool to find them alive and safe. During this meeting, I began to remember what happened to me as a child, and I decided that EVERY child should be safe and that NO CHILD should be at risk.. I know I had planned many times to run away, but where would I go? To family? The only family I had nearby was my grandmother, and it was at her house that my own uncle molested me (when I was 13) while I took care of my ailing grandmother.

However, I did find the courage to stay late at friends’ houses, but that was only to be punished by the lash of my abusive mother. My mother, I always tell people, was a fine Catholic Italian God-fearing woman who had a split personality. At work and in church, she was Dr. Jekyll, but at home she was Mr. Hyde. If I walked in the house five minutes late, I was beaten until my back swelled so badly that I could not sleep. One day, she hit me with a wooden spoon that broke and cut me in the back of the ear. Those welts and wounds only lay hidden for a while. I still feel the pain in my back at times when I sit in the wrong position, and my left ear hurts still today when I move the wrong way.  I was 16 and wanted to go pay for my own ticket to an Elvis Presley concert. My mother said “NO!” A fight ensued, and she took a knife from the drawer and tried to kill me with it, and then kill herself. It took all that I had to calm her. I told her I loved her and that I was a bad child 1,000 times before finally taking knife from her hand. It was the first of three attempts on my life . From that day on, I became my mother’s mother—my childhood gone forever.

By the time I was 20, I had become my brother’s surrogate mother. He got into some trouble and, of course, I was to blame. I ran away that night after being whipped as soon as I came in the door. I ran to my boyfriend’s house hoping for some solace. You see, kids like me don’t know what real love is. We look for it in the wrong places sometimes and fall victim to more abuse. That night, Greg got me drunk. I tried to fight him off, but he raped me. I could not tell anyone.

It took 20 years for me to write my first book The Quest for Excalibur. In the chapter titled “The Lady of the Lake,” my character, with the help of Merlin, tells a curious King Arthur that she was raped and beaten. It was the first courageous moment of my life—I finally set my demons free.

That will not be another child, not at 3 years old or at 13 or at 16 or at 20. Not if I can help it.

No longer afraid to tell my truth, today I am telling you this. It was when I met the people from New York Life that I knew in my heart I could not keep quiet anymore. Children run away when they are afraid or abused. At 13, I did not have a voice to speak for myself. My uncle told lies about me to cover his sexual desires for an innocent child.

I could not tell anyone about my mother, as I was afraid she would actually kill me the next time she beat me. At 20, I again remained silent—afraid of Greg and my mother at the same time.

Millions of children all over the world fall prey to what I suffered every day of my life. The people at New York Life are trying to stop this by giving caring parents a tool to help them find their children alive. Parents will receive a free laminated ID card, as well as a larger identification sheet with their child’s recent photo, fingerprints, parental contact information, and the child’s basic information. If your child is lost or kidnapped, these sheets provide the police with all of the pertinent information needed to find him/her.

I, Angelica Harris, vow for the rest of my life to advocate for children. We must stop abuse and neglect. Our children are our future—a future we cannot ignore. God blessed us with these precious gift so that we would take care of them. Let us stop the violence. I found my voice through my character, Arianna, and in two subsequent books (Excalibur and the Holy Grail and Excalibur Reclaims Her King), Arianna used her voice of empowerment to dig though her demons and slay them.

Are you willing to help me in my quest to help children find their voice? Will you help me keep them safe from harmful hands? Join me for the safety of children.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEO), as many as one million children are reported missing every year. Many of these children are never seen again due to the fact that their parents do not have the vital information needed for the police and investigators to find their child, which is why I have teamed up with Frankie Janello (owner of Frankie’s Playce) and New York Life to host Child Safety Days. The event will take place on June 19 and 26 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 3 - 8 p.m. and I encourage everyone who has children to come out for it. Parents will receive a free laminated ID card as well as a larger ID sheet with their child’s recent photo, fingerprints, parental contact information, and the child’s basic information. If your child were to get lost or stolen, these sheets provide the police with all of the pertinent information needed to find him/her. Local police and firefighters will also be at the event to talk to kids about being safe. Other activities include Kiwally the Koala Puppet, a clown, and a balloon artist. I hope to see you there!

For more information, please call Frankie’s Playce at 718-326-2023 or Angelica Harris at 718-381-9552.

Excalibur Reclaims Her King by Angelica Harris and Corey Blake

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Poisoned in the 6th century, Merlin calls to the future for Excalibur’s guardian, who must claim her right as a high priestess, battle a witch who is terrorizing Camelot, and raise Arthur from the deadall to fulfill an ancient prophesy and unite the religions of the 6th century under Christ.

If you are a fantasy lover, an Arthurian legend buff, or just interested in the work of Angelica Harris, Corey Blake and Writers of the Round Table, this is a spirited journey in line with the magic and adventure of the Harry Potter series.

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On Wednesday night, I watched the HBO movie Taking Chance about the journey of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl’s volunteered commission to escort the remains of decorated Lance Corporal Chance Phelps (1984-2004) home to Wyoming for proper burial.

As I watched the movie, it reminded me of the men and women who unselfishly gave their lives for us over the past few years in Iraq, Baghdad, and the World Trade Center. Also, for the soldiers who gave their lives in all of the past wars, including the Revolutionary War, which birthed this great nation called the United States of America.

I come from a Military background. Since World War I my great uncles and grandfather served this great country. My grandfather’s picture is in the base of the Statue of Liberty with other men of foreign birth who traded their citizenships to serve their newfound country. He was a citizen of Italy who came here to live and enlisted his services to serve his new homeland. My dad, father-in-law, and all of my uncles served proudly in the Army, Navy, Marines or the Air Force during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, or the Gulf War.  My dad served in Normandy and my father-in-law in the Office of Strategic Service in the Navy. Both men were highly decorated, and I am so proud of them.

When I was a girl, the Vietnam War was going on. I had friends who went to ‘Nam. A few of the boys were almost finished with their stints. The parents of these soldiers had their pictures and signs on the window counting down how many days they had left until they were safely home. Parties and celebrations were planned and everyone was invited.

We had friends that came back but 27 of our fallen in Woodside, Queens did not return. It was my privilege to help two male friends of mine go to the airport and claim their brothers’ bodies.  As I watched Taking Chance, it reminded me of those days. At the time, I was 19, and to this day it was the most humbling and proudest days of my life to be able to serve my country that way. To witness how the Army escort revered his station and rank through fellowship, guarding his comrade the last miles of his life.

Instead of being at a party with a band, we spent our days at the funeral parlors and in church where the organist played music and the choirmaster led the chorus in the Ave Maria. Instead of sitting at the bar with a drink, the main drink was the wine (if the parents requested it) from the Eucharist we received in the church. The wine represents the blood that Christ sacrificed for our sins to keep us free. In respect, the soldier does the same, but in another way: he sheds his life on the fields of battle to keep us free from terrorism.

No, a soldier’s heart never dies. It still beats within all of us. For our heroes, and those who died on September 11, 2001, their lives and spirits walk with us as we walk the path of freedom. May they rest in peace!