Captain Phil Perry reads “The Turnip” to Tricia Hribar’s kindergarten class. Two students volunteer to help him read and he says they can be his bookends. Photo by Shirley Ruhe.
The fire engine pulls up in front of Lyles-Crouch Elementary School on Friday morning and four firefighters jump out and head for the front door. They are scheduled to read to three classes each in an initiative called Read Across Alexandria. The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office teamed up with the Alexandria City Public Schools and Alexandria Fire Department to begin this new effort in November. Captain Phil Perry, leader of the group, says, "We get out into the community. We love it."
Karrie Kay, reading specialist, stands in the lobby. "Welcome Firefighters; grab a book and a schedule." Kay has chosen the books with the assistance of the school librarian. Perry sorts through the pile of books and picks "The Turnip." He says, "You got to love a turnip." He heads downstairs to Tricia Hribar's kindergarten room where excitement has been building. When he walks through the door, a small voice says, "Oh he's here."
Hribar says, "Can you say hi to Captain Phil and to Fireman Mark?" Perry sits in a large padded chair as the 14 students in the class crowd around on the rug to get the best view. "Does anybody want to help me read?" Hands shoot up and two students seat themselves on the chair arms on each side. "You can be my bookends. Has anyone eaten a turnip?" Not in this class.
"Are we ready?" Perry opens the book. "An old man planted a turnip. Grow. Grow. The little turnip grew sweet and big." But as the story progresses, when it comes time to pull up the turnip, it is too big. "The old man and the old woman pulled and pulled but they couldn't pull it out. Who was the last one to pull?" Someone volunteers "the dog." Perry says, "right; give yourself a hand."
Perry heads upstairs to Libbi Moquin's fourth grade class. "Are you awake?" Groans greet this question. "Let's go get some coffee." He pauses, "This is a harder crowd. We've got this turnip book — it's a little simple for you but I think you'll have fun with it. Are you ready?" In unison, "Yah." Again the old man pulls the old woman who pulls the little girl who pulls the dog who pulls the cat but, "oh my gosh the turnip is so strong." Perry finishes the book a second time and asks, "Did you know there is a test after this?"
Finally on to Laura Zybrick's third grade class. This time Perry and Fireman Mark share reading duties. Fireman Mark begins, "The old man planted the turnip." One student volunteers, "it's going to get even bigger." And finally when the mouse gets added to the chain pulling the turnip, YA HOO, they pull it out. Perry says, "no matter how small you are, you can be a big help. BOOM I just pulled that out," he says. "I knew it," someone yells. "Dude, you are wise beyond your years.
"So do you know how to cook a turnip?” Perry asks. Someone offers, "My mother bakes it in the oven." Zybrick says her mother used to mash them for holidays. Another offers her mother puts turnips in salad. ”So who else has a strange vegetable?" Perry asks. Answers range from spinach to pomegranates, asparagus, blue cheese and coconut. As Perry and Mark are ready to leave he asks, "High five?" Hands bump each other in the air as everyone rushes for a turn.
Perry has been a firefighter for 31 years. He is currently stationed at Firehouse 201 on Prince Street where he is captain of his 24-hour 7 am shift. "But I usually arrive at 5:30 a.m. because I don't want to leave a guy in the middle of a call at the end of the shift. “He started as a volunteer firefighter in Prince George's County when he was 18. "My father, uncle and brother were all firefighters although my father became a policeman." He says, "It's a group of people who can pull together. You know when you find your right niche."