Today is a Sad Day-A different Reason

[jgalecpa]

My Profile says I live in Washington DC. The actual area I live in in known as Silver Spring and is Montgomery County MD.

One year ago today the "DC Sniper" rampage started, right in my neighborhood.

At the time, my wife and I were in College Station TX watching a dear friend being installed as President Texas A&M. Our kids were at home being watched by DW's sister.

The first shooting was at a grocery store on the next street over from where we live.

The next day, as we were having breakfast with Former President Bush (who was to give the openng remarks) and his dear wife Barbara, The sniper shot five more people, none more than five miles from our house.

About mid-way through the morning someone took us aside and said there was something about Montgomery County on CNN.

We found out our kids were safe in school, completely locked down. After experiencing 9/11 in DC, they had fortunately/unfortunately praticed for it.

The next three weeks we learned what it meant to live with daily fear. We developed "games" like the "sniper dance" DD and I used to get from the car to the door of the grocery store, etc.

The worst, for me, was when the Last victim was shot. His name was Conrad Johnson and like me a father of two. He was shot standing in his bus waiting for his days route to begin. (They have dedicated the bus to him and we see it regularly in our neighborhood.) I'll never forget the look of fear in peoples eyes that morning.

The fine men and women of law enforcement stopped this rampage in only three weeks. Hindsight is alwayst 20:20, and I think they did the best anyone could hope. Top among these was our own Chief Charles Moose.

Finally at the end of the saga, we got back to normal. My DD-15 had a Halloween party to go to at one of her school friends house.

On the six mile drive we passed five separate shooting sites.

We in the DC area thank everyone out there who prayed for us during that horrible 22 days.

Thanks

Jim Gale

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim, thank you for your post - your lives were really touched by two monsters. As with all tragedies of that magnitude, it is very important that we do not forget the families of victims.

Our family was in DC the week of the 7th for a conference, and visiting friends in Woodstock, MD. There was also a large group of friends from our elementary school and their children with them staying at various places (school fall break), and we had a "Hickory Meet" at the ESPN Zone.

We tried to keep the news away from our youngest, but everyday we would walk back into the hotel and the TV would be on in the main lobby lounge (we were at the Marriott Wardman Park) with news of a new shooting, or continuing police work.

I can't imagine what it must have been like for you and Rieanne to be so far away from your children when this all started.

It was a very frightening time for everyone in such a large area - we could only imagine what it was like to live there and deal with it everyday.

Bonnie

 

[denise5374]

Jim,

Thank you for your post...I didn't realize until after I posted mine exactly what day today was. I am sorry for being so inconsiderate.

I can't even begin to imagine what you and your DW were thinking while you were in Tx and your kids at home.

Denise

 

[dianthus]

Jim~

What a touching post! I am so glad you, your family and your community do not have to live under the blanket of fear experienced last year! You live with the reminder of this terror and have put it in perspective beautifully! Your post is a lovely testament to those who perished and law enforcement that worked frantically to put a stop to the insanity.

Let's keep the victims and their families in our hearts. As with 9/11, I only hope our country does not have to experience this type of terrorism again.

Thank you for your post!

~ Linda

 

[trishy]

Update here

Hope they hang the b@st@rd$.

My sympathies to all the families feeling this pain once again.

 

[jgalecpa]

I want to say one thing.

The People in Texas were amazing.

I have never met such a caring group. Complete strangers would come up to us for the next two days making sure everything was ok.

Many people showed their absolute best during the worst of times.

And Trishy: Me too.

Jim

 

[Dreamer04]

Jim, I'm sorry for the pain you and especially your children went through. Thankfully, the monsters were caught. I hope your children feel safe again soon.

Ursula

 

[tammy bell]

Jim, I can definitely sympathsize with your pain. We live in NYC and know what it was like to live in constant fear post 9/11. Also, yesterday some perverted pyscho tried to kidnap two little girls very close to where I live. He did this in two seperate incidents. Thank God he was unsuccessful. Please pray for our children.

 

[jlawall]

Dear Jim,

Thx for your sensitive post. My DD19 was/is attending U of MD, College Park during the sniper attacks. Needless to say, I was terrified for her safety during this ordeal. I certainly haven't forgotten my terror for her and the other residents of the Wash DC suburbs during this time. My DD13 was scheduled to participate in the WAGS soccer tournament during this time. It was cancelled due to the attacks last year. We will be returning next weekend. I'm so glad the situation was resolved by the law enforcement officers as quickly as it was. What a crazy world we live in. Praise God for His support and care during last year's crazy time.

Jo

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hey Jim.

We in the DC area thank everyone out there who prayed for us during that horrible 22 days.

As you know, fear gives me courage, stress makes me seek a smile and I have yet to meet a dispair stronger than humor. So what can I say in relation to the inhumanity of those animals who terrorized your area? Well, at least they make me look "normal"...