Los Lunas
It was a night filled with smiles and laughter as Karin Trujillo’s second-grade class from Katherine Gallegos Elementary welcomed the Grazioso family to New Mexico.
Over the Fourth of July weekend, Trujillo hosted a patriotic barbecue in honor of the people who helped bring the family from New Jersey to the Land of Enchantment.
The Los Lunas students and their families were anxious to come face to face with Tina and her three children, Kathryn, 8, Kristen, 5, and Michael, 1, who lost not only their husband and father, John, but also John’s brother Tim in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.
“The students and parents did so much for this family,” said Cathie Pike, whose children attend KGE. Pike helped connect Trujillo with the New Jersey family. “We could not have done this alone. The whole school really opened their hearts.”
After months of exchanging letters, cards and gifts, Trujillo was excited beyond description to meet Tina and her children.
“I still can’t believe it,” Trujillo said. “I can’t put it into words. I know we’ve formed a lifelong bond.”
Tina Grazioso remembers being a little overwhelmed at seeing everyone for the first time.
“I was glad to put faces to the names. Now I’m able to personally talk to everyone and thank them — let them know how great they’ve been for us,” she said.
“This whole experience has changed our family. Every night, we say our prayers and thank God for the people we don’t know who care.”
Eight-year-old Kathryn Grazioso says she likes to read the cards her new friends from Los Lunas have sent her family.
“It’s nice that people are helping,” she said. “I tell them thank you for being so nice.”
It was a week of celebration and sightseeing for the Grazioso family who were accompanied by their New Mexico tour guides. The students and families took the visitors to see the Rio Grande Zoo, the Albu-querque Aquarium, Old Town and the Tram, among other sites.
Along with family dinners and trips to the movies, Tina and her children enjoyed a hot air balloon ride, bowling in Bosque Farms and family swim night at Los Lunas High School. The children also took art lessons at Bristles in Los Lunas.
During Mass at San Clemente Parish, Father Rick Zerwas introduced the Grazioso family to the congregation. “People from the community came up and prayed for them,” Trujillo remembers. “Tina was crying. It was awesome to see how everyone reached out.”
The Grazioso family now has a home away from home. “We’d love to come back again. A lot of friendships were made during this trip.”
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April 18, 2024
