The Commercial Appeal from Memphis, Tennessee • 34

TT" A 4 4 4 4 CIO kJMEMPHISf MONDAY MAY 26 1986 TT7TT7TTTTTTTT7fT7TTTTTT Danny Tumbow 33 of Laka City Ark strings rad tap along U8 70 in 81 Francis County to dotig-nata gaps in tho Hands Across America lino Photographs by David Smart Michael McMullan Dave Darnell Andy Piper 'v-i Nt 7 Muddy midpoint attracts celebrities to center stage for full measure SS Other links are forged by Th Associated PrtM 'A1 St4 Hands Across America cast ripples across the country yesterday with events including Hands Across the Big Yard at a New Jersey prison Hands Across Massachusetts and All Join Hands in Alliance Neb At Rahway State Prison in New Jersey 503 of the 1257 inmates linked hands behind prison walls The inmates who earn $150 a day pledged $2 to $15 each for the Hands cause In Virginia Beach Va about 8000 men women and children joined hands along seven miles of the oceanfront from Rudee Inlet to Fort Story were part of said Terry Pollock 26 of Hampton who rose at 6 am and drove to Virginia Beach after working until 1 am At the Pungo Strawberry Festival in Virginia Beach festival-goers formed a double line two miles long And in Norfolk city employees their families and friends joined Hands Around City Hall About 2800 people who paid $10 each linked up at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco so wonderful to see people of all races and all occupations linking up to help the less said Judy Farland a San Francisco secretary About 3000 people joined hands yesterday in a 15-block fund-raising effort as the Chattanooga Food Bank sought to capitalize on the Hands Across America theme Bill Johnson 42 the food director said about $20000 was raised as volunteers paid at least $5 each "We asked people to bring canned foods and we got a tremendous amount of canned food in the food Johnson said Sen Edward Kennedy joined about 6000 people for Hands Across Massachusetts Sporting a Hands Across America T-shirt under his blue-gray suit jacket Kennedy took issue with President Reagan's comment last week that people are hungry only because they are ignorant of government programs believe that those in the White House or in this administration who do not understand the plight of homelessness and hunger in this country are the ignorant individuals" Kennedy said The event raised about $60000 for the Hands fund Ernie Owens 61 who said he sleeps in the street said he thought the Massachusetts event was nice But not going to pay off People who need it wc is "VT-i wont get since April was worth Miss Garner said were times I so sure When I was handing out brochures people would say they getting involved and I got down Now I know all the effort was for something Miss Garner said one more goodbye to Ms Collins was a stranger to me and now a friend after just a few Miss Garner said think a lot of people made friends Ms Collins who has been vocal in several social and political movements said she hoped people Wv' 'Vl Mi ifc As 'k By Steve Gaither Martin Tann Bureau RIPLEY Tenn A muddy stretch along US 51 here measured 2076 miles from either coast following the Hands Across America route The attraction of being at the human midpoint attracted enough people 14000 by police estimates that they were ounched together in the three-mile stretch of highway They came from Nashville Florida Georgia and all over the rest of the southeastern United States Ten buses and an unknown number of cars made their way from Nashville to join the line at Ripley said Sharon Hodge the Nashville coordinator Among those who joined the caravan were about 15 music and television celebrities she said Andre Landzaat who played Tony Casadine on the daytime series General Hospital and is working on an album in Nashville obliged autograph-seekers and hammed it up in a chorus line routine with several girls is kind of nice to be in the middle of it Landzaat said is an event that will never happen again and it is a good cause at the same At the Peach Patch the line swerved off the highway and wrapped around an orange line and sign post officially marking the halfway point It was at the center of the Hands line that 16-year-old Valencia Garner of Memphis a volunteer for Hands joined hands with Judy Collins and sang for a camera from The Nashville Network a cable television network The two hugged after the 15-minute event ended and Miss Garner wiped her eyes feel like all the work I've done A carry away a sense of responsibility with the good feelings they shared yesterday was really really Ms Collins said been like a pilgrimage I hope it means our consciences have been Ruby Fryar who runs a pottery business in north Georgia said most Georgia residents wanting to Aieta Adams or Naples members of her family came from Naples and Cleveland Ohio to stage a family reunion have fun and be a part of a once-in-a-lifetime event thought we might as well come participate lnthe chain were directed to Northwest Tennessee Three carloads of her employees camped in Fort Pillow State Park with thunderstorms and the glad we came she said history and when I brought up the idea they all wanted to come" Aieta Adams of Naples Fla said to the she said standing next to her late-model Cadillac covered in synthetic turf Mrs car drew curious looks ffom those who walked up and down the line before singing started She took those looks as invitations to meet people is a lot of fun really crazy" saag Vs fJV noKTi A 5 4 mm fiO Hlill i.