YouthKwest
Active LVC Member
I have posted this message on two other forums that I frequent. May
God Bless you on this day.
Greetings Members, Non-Members and Lurkers,
Tomorrow, April 19 2005 marks the 10 yr anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on US soil prior to 9/11. This is a day of mourning for the victims of the bombing. When I say victims, I don't just mean the parents of a fallen child, the brother or sister of a fallen sibling, the child of a fallen parent. I speak of the countless others affected by this tragedy. The rescue workers that I am proud to be a part of, the doctors who have never seen that kind of carnage, the city who wasn't prepared for the heartbreak. I stand with my brothers and sisters of Oklahoma City who fell victim to the traumatic stress caused by one bomb, in one truck, driven by one man.
As I sit here writing this, tears of pain and anguish stream down my face. My memories are clouded from the day before, yet crystal clear memories of that fateful day. I remember seeing the blood, the cries of horror, the screams of scared, confused people looking for their loved ones. I remember the mobile morgue we had set up for the children that perished. I remember tripping over debris as I approached ground zero. I remember around 10:15am being told to leave ground zero, cause they found another bomb. I remember diving over a barrier at the YMCA building at the loading dock. I remember praying with a fellow medic...Praying to Jesus Himself to rescue us. To give us peace, a peace that passes all understanding so that we may do what we were trained to do, to do our jobs as medics. We prayed that Jesus guide us and protect us. And above all else, we prayed for you....for the OKC general public. Cause we knew you would be hurt and confused as to why this happened...we prayed for peace.
I will be going to the Bombing Memorial to retrace my steps. Everywhere I walked 10 yrs ago, I will walk tomorrow. My only guide will be my memory and Jesus. This will be the first time I have gone to the site alone since April 22nd, 1995. That was the last day I worked as liason and medical support for the recovery team.
I would encourage each of you, tomorrow morning, at 9:01am, to turn your lights on in your cars, and to say a small prayer for the victims of this tragedy. In the days following the bombing, OKC would drive with their lights on as a rememberance of the pain this City went through. I urge you to turn your lights on in pride of how this City has triumphed in its healing.
Sincerely,
Joe R. Wallis
fmr EMSA Medic #5180
'92-'96
God Bless you on this day.
Greetings Members, Non-Members and Lurkers,
Tomorrow, April 19 2005 marks the 10 yr anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on US soil prior to 9/11. This is a day of mourning for the victims of the bombing. When I say victims, I don't just mean the parents of a fallen child, the brother or sister of a fallen sibling, the child of a fallen parent. I speak of the countless others affected by this tragedy. The rescue workers that I am proud to be a part of, the doctors who have never seen that kind of carnage, the city who wasn't prepared for the heartbreak. I stand with my brothers and sisters of Oklahoma City who fell victim to the traumatic stress caused by one bomb, in one truck, driven by one man.
As I sit here writing this, tears of pain and anguish stream down my face. My memories are clouded from the day before, yet crystal clear memories of that fateful day. I remember seeing the blood, the cries of horror, the screams of scared, confused people looking for their loved ones. I remember the mobile morgue we had set up for the children that perished. I remember tripping over debris as I approached ground zero. I remember around 10:15am being told to leave ground zero, cause they found another bomb. I remember diving over a barrier at the YMCA building at the loading dock. I remember praying with a fellow medic...Praying to Jesus Himself to rescue us. To give us peace, a peace that passes all understanding so that we may do what we were trained to do, to do our jobs as medics. We prayed that Jesus guide us and protect us. And above all else, we prayed for you....for the OKC general public. Cause we knew you would be hurt and confused as to why this happened...we prayed for peace.
I will be going to the Bombing Memorial to retrace my steps. Everywhere I walked 10 yrs ago, I will walk tomorrow. My only guide will be my memory and Jesus. This will be the first time I have gone to the site alone since April 22nd, 1995. That was the last day I worked as liason and medical support for the recovery team.
I would encourage each of you, tomorrow morning, at 9:01am, to turn your lights on in your cars, and to say a small prayer for the victims of this tragedy. In the days following the bombing, OKC would drive with their lights on as a rememberance of the pain this City went through. I urge you to turn your lights on in pride of how this City has triumphed in its healing.
Sincerely,
Joe R. Wallis
fmr EMSA Medic #5180
'92-'96
