Daniel Rodriguez

He became a familiar presence at memorial events after Sept. 11. Now tenor Daniel Rodriguez, New York's "singing policeman," gets top billing in "The Spirit of America Concert" (at 8 tonight on KCET). He'll be singing at the Hollywood Bowl on Aug. 30-31.

You might not remember his name, but last year Daniel Rodriguez put his arms around America and dried its tears with his voice. He is the "singing cop," the New York City police officer who sang at the funerals of those claimed by the attacks on the World Trade Center. He sang at the World Series. He sang at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He sang at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. He sang, and sang again, "God Bless America" and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

"It was just a dream you couldn't wake up out of. I'm O.K. . . . I'm going to go walk on the beach." --Daniel Rodriguez, 37, of San Pedro, after his rescue following the accidental sinking of the Barcona, a tugboat he was working on, by a naval submarine that snagged the smaller boat and pulled it down off Santa Catalina Island.

He became a familiar presence at memorial events after Sept. 11. Now tenor Daniel Rodriguez, New York's "singing policeman," gets top billing in "The Spirit of America Concert" (at 8 tonight on KCET). He'll be singing at the Hollywood Bowl on Aug. 30-31.

Re "Skid Row's El Estudiante Is Now a Scholar," May 14: I read the paper faithfully, skimming past the torturous stories about child abuse and murder and move on to the comics for a smile and giggle. Today I was rewarded with the story about Daniel Rodriguez, el estudiante. The story brought tears to my eyes in reading about his focus and determination to achieve an education. What was even more touching was the mention of those who helped him along his path. Maybe we can all be a little kinder and more helpful to others without expecting anything in return.

You might not remember his name, but last year Daniel Rodriguez put his arms around America and dried its tears with his voice. He is the "singing cop," the New York City police officer who sang at the funerals of those claimed by the attacks on the World Trade Center. He sang at the World Series. He sang at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He sang at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. He sang, and sang again, "God Bless America" and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

In response to Ruben Martinez's "The Dance of Nuevo L.A." (Jan. 30), I'd like to add the viewpoint of minority people who, having been brought up traditionally "American," have been made to feel inferior or ashamed because we don't relate culturally to the newly arrived or first-generation minorities. Thus, getting the short end of both sticks, we seem not to fit in anywhere. I don't think that my being a Latina requires that I learn the quebradita. And I don't think that because I am fluent in Spanish I should speak English with an accent.

A group of teen-agers and a well-known local artist are using a Lemon Park block wall as the canvas for a mural to deter graffiti vandals. The wall had long been a popular "tagging" spot in Fullerton until last month, when the group began converting it into a mural titled "Children of the World," city officials said. "This painting is the heart of Fullerton and people will respect it," 16-year-old Daniel Rodriguez said as he painted an ocean on the wall Wednesday afternoon.

It's just over two miles from skid row to USC. It took Daniel Rodriguez a decade to complete the journey. An odyssey that began in a skid row mission has ended, for now, at a USC graduation ceremony, where the 43-year-old Rodriguez, a high school dropout and former penniless street fighter, received a bachelor's degree in history with honors. Next will come a master's degree--he has been accepted to graduate school at USC--and then a law degree. He promises.

New York City police officer Daniel Rodriguez, the "singing cop" who gained prominence when he performed at the Yankee Stadium memorial service shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, turned in his retirement papers Tuesday and said he will devote himself to music. "I'd like to dedicate myself to learning how much I can actually accomplish as a singer," said the 40-year-old Rodriguez. "I'm sad to leave because I really love the job, but I'm also happy to be moving forward."

Re "Skid Row's El Estudiante Is Now a Scholar," May 14: I read the paper faithfully, skimming past the torturous stories about child abuse and murder and move on to the comics for a smile and giggle. Today I was rewarded with the story about Daniel Rodriguez, el estudiante. The story brought tears to my eyes in reading about his focus and determination to achieve an education. What was even more touching was the mention of those who helped him along his path. Maybe we can all be a little kinder and more helpful to others without expecting anything in return.

It's just over two miles from skid row to USC. It took Daniel Rodriguez a decade to complete the journey. An odyssey that began in a skid row mission has ended, for now, at a USC graduation ceremony, where the 43-year-old Rodriguez, a high school dropout and former penniless street fighter, received a bachelor's degree in history with honors. Next will come a master's degree--he has been accepted to graduate school at USC--and then a law degree. He promises.

In response to Ruben Martinez's "The Dance of Nuevo L.A." (Jan. 30), I'd like to add the viewpoint of minority people who, having been brought up traditionally "American," have been made to feel inferior or ashamed because we don't relate culturally to the newly arrived or first-generation minorities. Thus, getting the short end of both sticks, we seem not to fit in anywhere. I don't think that my being a Latina requires that I learn the quebradita. And I don't think that because I am fluent in Spanish I should speak English with an accent.

"It was just a dream you couldn't wake up out of. I'm O.K. . . . I'm going to go walk on the beach." --Daniel Rodriguez, 37, of San Pedro, after his rescue following the accidental sinking of the Barcona, a tugboat he was working on, by a naval submarine that snagged the smaller boat and pulled it down off Santa Catalina Island.

Aman attempting to cross the southbound Golden State Freeway in Sun Valley was killed when he was struck by a car in the fast lane, the California Highway Patrol reported Monday. Daniel Rodriguez, 23, of North Hollywood was killed at 11:40 p.m. Sunday just south of the Laurel Canyon Boulevard exit, officials said. The driver of the car, William Upfold, 30, of Madera, Calif., was not cited, officials said.