story3701.xml
Title
story3701.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-11
911DA Story: Story
Reverence, Not Rubbernecking
A few minutes ago my journey home from church took me, like it does nearly every night - right past the Pentagon. I could see with my eyes what the whole nation and world has seen on their television screens ? a large gaping hole torn into the building by a weapon of fuel, humanity, and cargo. But tonight what impressed me was not the devastation wrought by the hands of evil men, I have come to believe that the hand of evil has no restraint save the one imposed by the mercy of God.
What did impress me was how my fellow highway travelers all slowed down at least a half-mile before this symbol of our nations military might came into view. Everyday on the traffic report we hear of accidents on one side of the road that slow traffic on the other with the phenomenon called ?rubbernecking?. I?ve seen rubbernecking a hundred times on the beltway and surrounding highways, and I can tell you that what I saw tonight was most certainly not rubbernecking, it was more like reverence. People weren?t slowing down to gawk; they were slowing out of respect for the lives lost in this act of terrorism.
When a man or woman signs up to join any branch of our military, they sign up for the noblest of tasks; that of protecting our nation and its citizens, and defending freedom. They also take a job that brings with it the highest of risks; that of placing your life on the line. They know that whether they are in the infantry or serve on war ships, or if they are in logistics, technical support or medical personnel that their job may one day place them in harms way. Who would ever know that harms way for those who lost their lives this week would be while they were sitting at their desk or gathered around conference tables, or placing files in their proper places.
While I write this letter we still don?t know exactly how many lives were lost, but we do know that it was too many and we pray for the families of those who are suffering. Here are some other stories that I?ve heard over the last several hours from members of the Woodbridge congregation that are encouraging:
Chuck Africano, Tamara Brown, Lamar Jones, all of whom have regular meetings at the Pentagon, were not there when the attack occurred. Lorna King?s husband directs a logistics unit and although he wasn?t in the building at the time, had a team of personnel who were, and all have been accounted for. Bill & Linda O?Briant?s Son-in-law was in the section of the Pentagon that was struck at the time, but made it out safely. His brother, who also works in the building was right outside and saw the plane hit the building. While one brother was running into the building the other was running out and they saw each other. Lana Africano tells of a friend who was sitting at her desk and heard of the World Trade Center attacks. Something inside told her that she should leave, so she gathered some papers together, got up and walked out. When she reached her car the airplane struck the building.
Although we won?t be able to escape the grief over those who we will discover to be lost, we can find encouragement in stories of many who were spared. We can also take courage in the fact that a society that can at times be so indifferent, has rallied to the support of one another and to the aid of those who suffer loss.
Pastor Garrett Caldwell
A few minutes ago my journey home from church took me, like it does nearly every night - right past the Pentagon. I could see with my eyes what the whole nation and world has seen on their television screens ? a large gaping hole torn into the building by a weapon of fuel, humanity, and cargo. But tonight what impressed me was not the devastation wrought by the hands of evil men, I have come to believe that the hand of evil has no restraint save the one imposed by the mercy of God.
What did impress me was how my fellow highway travelers all slowed down at least a half-mile before this symbol of our nations military might came into view. Everyday on the traffic report we hear of accidents on one side of the road that slow traffic on the other with the phenomenon called ?rubbernecking?. I?ve seen rubbernecking a hundred times on the beltway and surrounding highways, and I can tell you that what I saw tonight was most certainly not rubbernecking, it was more like reverence. People weren?t slowing down to gawk; they were slowing out of respect for the lives lost in this act of terrorism.
When a man or woman signs up to join any branch of our military, they sign up for the noblest of tasks; that of protecting our nation and its citizens, and defending freedom. They also take a job that brings with it the highest of risks; that of placing your life on the line. They know that whether they are in the infantry or serve on war ships, or if they are in logistics, technical support or medical personnel that their job may one day place them in harms way. Who would ever know that harms way for those who lost their lives this week would be while they were sitting at their desk or gathered around conference tables, or placing files in their proper places.
While I write this letter we still don?t know exactly how many lives were lost, but we do know that it was too many and we pray for the families of those who are suffering. Here are some other stories that I?ve heard over the last several hours from members of the Woodbridge congregation that are encouraging:
Chuck Africano, Tamara Brown, Lamar Jones, all of whom have regular meetings at the Pentagon, were not there when the attack occurred. Lorna King?s husband directs a logistics unit and although he wasn?t in the building at the time, had a team of personnel who were, and all have been accounted for. Bill & Linda O?Briant?s Son-in-law was in the section of the Pentagon that was struck at the time, but made it out safely. His brother, who also works in the building was right outside and saw the plane hit the building. While one brother was running into the building the other was running out and they saw each other. Lana Africano tells of a friend who was sitting at her desk and heard of the World Trade Center attacks. Something inside told her that she should leave, so she gathered some papers together, got up and walked out. When she reached her car the airplane struck the building.
Although we won?t be able to escape the grief over those who we will discover to be lost, we can find encouragement in stories of many who were spared. We can also take courage in the fact that a society that can at times be so indifferent, has rallied to the support of one another and to the aid of those who suffer loss.
Pastor Garrett Caldwell
Collection
Citation
“story3701.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 15, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/6530.