To everything, there is a season
This year, I eagerly planned my wife’s birthday celebration. Judy and I have been married for more than 30 years, and I’ve found it is getting harder to surprise her.
In the past, I have arrived in a gorilla outfit at a law office where she worked. (Lawyers need to get a sense of humor.) I kidnapped her from the technical college she teaches at for a weekend adventure, and I have surprised her with a number of other “Roger specialty” events.
This year I decided to put my efforts into getting a nice gift and making a fine dinner. (Another Roger secret revealed — I’m a good cook.)
Judy’s birthday is Sept. 11. Her birthday will never be the same again.
We did the best we could with the birthday celebration but found ourselves in front of the television like most Americans.
Late that night I picked up one of my guitars and I started to play the Byrds’ “Turn, Turn, Turn,” adapted from Ecclesiastes. While watching the events on Sept. 11 unfold, I found myself reflecting on the song during the day, and a couple of verses in particular:
A time to plant, a time to reap.
A time to dance, a time to mourn.
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together.
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
The words seemed to fit my emotions and mood following the day’s events.
Events changed everything
As the stories unfolded, I thought of our son Ben. Ben worked a block from the World Trade Center not too long ago. Now a newspaper reporter in New Jersey, he watched from his office window as the first tower collapsed. His telling me this caused me to pause and say a prayer for his safety and for those in the towers. As he told me about what he saw, I reflected back to two years ago when I stood with Ben, my wife and my daughter Carly, at the top of one of the towers. We marveled at the view and splendor of New York. I even took a picture of the shadows the towers cast across Manhattan. The shadows are now gone forever.
The attack on the Pentagon also struck home with me. As you may know, I’m a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel. When I heard of the attack on the Pentagon, I was immediately brought back to the time I spent in those hallowed halls. The best and the brightest our country, and our military, has to offer make it to that building. Now, many have lost their lives in defending our freedoms.
Amateur radio
When I was on active duty, I was amazed at how amateur radio operators supported the military. The Military Affiliate Radio System members are volunteer, licensed amateur radio operators. In times of emergency, and even on a daily basis, they really step up and assist.
It was no different during the tragic events of Sept. 11. My thanks to Dale G. Svetanoff (WA9ENE) of Rockwell Collins for drawing my attention to the efforts of amateur radio operators in New York. Dale emailed me a copy of an item that appeared in the ARRL Letter of Sept. 21. According to the newsletter, dozens of hams worked 12-hour shifts to cover communications and logistical support for the American Red Cross and provided supplemental communications for the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
According to Tom Carrubba (KA2D), New York City-Long Island ARRL section emergency coordinator, a single, multipurpose ARES/RACES net was maintained on a 147MHz repeater in Manhattan. Carrubba also stated that the volunteers came from the greater New York City area and were deployed to 13 Red Cross shelters, two OEM sites and several staging areas. Others are stationed just outside the WTC scene.
In the 10 days following the attack, more than 350 amateur radio volunteers provided in excess of 5,000 work hours.
Ground hero
“Ground zero” in New York is now being referred to as “ground hero,” and rightfully so. We’ve seen the heroic efforts of the police, fire departments, EMTs and others at both attack sites. Now include amateur radio operators.
Following the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill told the British people that never have so many owed so much to so few (referring to Royal Air Force pilots). His words are appropriate today.
We, who feel so helpless, can look with pride on the few. They are heroes in every aspect of the word. But you and I can be heroes too. Start by thanking those who have helped. If you know the call sign of an amateur radio volunteer, let him know that you know what he did. In your community, donate blood, money and your time. Remember, no matter what the future brings, we are all in this together. And together we must stand and be counted.
