Neighbors Honor Returned Hostage

“Seven more, seven more to come home,” former hostage William Berry of Burbank said Friday night, raising seven fingers and referring to the Americans still held by terrorists in strife-ridden Lebanon.

Berry, 71, peered skyward and waved an American flag as a police helicopter played a spotlight over the Arleta neighborhood where he was the guest of honor for a block party celebrating the return of the hostages from Beirut.

“This is a wonderful thing they’re doing here,” said Berry, who appeared subdued and not totally comfortable being a celebrity. “There’s no way we can express our appreciation.”

Won’t Discuss Details

In his first public appearance since he and his wife, Almeda, were released by Shia Muslim terrorists on June 20, Berry chose, as he has previously, not to discuss any details of his ordeal. Almeda Berry did not attend.

He chatted with residents along flag-bedecked Osborne Street between Canterbury and Beachy Avenues, who had organized a low-key party to honor Berry and other freed hostages.

“I’m glad to be home,” he said, flashing a victory sign as he posed for photographs for some of the 150 people attending the event.

May Become Homebody

“You probably won’t go overseas for a while,” one resident joked.

“I don’t think so,” Berry replied softly.

City officials agreed to close off one block of Osborne Street for the event. Two men marched down the middle of the street carrying a large American flag, and the crowd broke into cheers as the heliocopter joined the celebration, circling overhead.

Berry himself stood off to one side of the street, surrounded by a small crowd of well-wishers. “We glad you’re here tonight,” one woman said, her hand on Berry’s shoulder.

The outdoor party lasted for half an hour.

Organizer of Gathering

The gathering was organized by Jim Termini, a resident who led a campaign to hoist the flag on every house on his block after the passengers aboard TWA Flight 847 from Athens to Rome were hijacked.

His efforts persuaded his neighbors to fly 37 flags over the houses of Osborne Street and to tie several yellow ribbons to fences.

“Tonight they can take them down,” said Termini, 63.

Los Angeles City Councilman Howard Finn and Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sepulveda, also dropped by to greet Berry and neighbors, who later gathered at Termini’s house for beer and snacks.

One man tried to engage Berry in a conversation about the politics of the hostage crisis. The former hostage just nodded his head, but offered no opinion of his own.

Berry has shunned publicity since his return, avoiding the media when he landed at Los Angeles International Airport.

Bought Flags for Neighbors

The residents of Termini’s neighborhood know what flag displays are all about.

Across the street, Joseph Crowley has displayed hundreds of flags, one for every American casualty in Lebanon, since a bombing killed hundreds of U.S. servicemen in October, 1984. For Friday’s event, Crowley, whose flag display is illuminated at night, spent $111 to purchase flags for neighbors who couldn’t afford one, Termini said.

Invitation to Party

Termini met with Berry on Wednesday to invite the former hostage and his wife to the neighborhood bash.

He and Berry both worked as film cutters 30 years ago at Pathe Laboratories in Hollywood, but on different shifts, Termini said. They had never met before Wednesday.

“I asked myself, where is the enthusiasm, the spirit of America?” Termini said. “I told my neighbors, ‘Hey, let’s back up the President, regardless of what your politics are.

“Show that you’re American. That’s my thinking. It’s my way of saying thanks for loving America.”