Loading ...Well, I owe Senator Bob Corker an apology. His staff was gracious enough to arrange a tour of the Capitol for me on September 11, 2008 at 2 pm. His media liaison even arranged for me to meet with Senator Corker for a mini-interview for BCR while I was there on the tour. This was most gracious and I really did appreciate their efforts.
Unfortunately, I had a lot to cram into my short visit to DC and while I was out and about the opportunity arose for me to meet with the archivist at the Army Center for Military History at Fort McNair at 1 pm. The contact information was unfortunately on my laptop back at the hotel, so I was in a bit of a quandary. Visit with a powerful United States Senator and tour the seat of National power, or visit with someone who had personally interviewed the victims of the attack on the Pentagon and was part of history as it happened?
It was not much of a choice for me so yep, I headed on over to Fort McNair to visit with someone who was part of 9/11. As I sat there listening to his stories of what happened that day, and of his interviews with survivors while they were still in the hospital, I knew I had made the right decision. I saw the pain in his face and the hint of tears in his eyes as he recounted the day’s events. As the clock moved past 2 pm, I knew I was in trouble with Senator Corker’s office, but such is life.
Later in the evening I made my way to the Pentagon Memorial. It was late because the day had been reserved for the families of the victims. The President and other dignitaries had all left by the time I arrived and there was plenty of activity as staff took down the chairs and flags, leaving behind only the memento’s brought by family members.
So my apologies to Senator Corker and his staff, but it just seemed like honoring those who fell and those who survived was more important than politics on the anniversary of 9/11. Maybe we can reschedule that interview for another time.
