by Kerry Thomas
Published in the
UW-Eau
Claire Spectator: Thursday, September 5, 2002
Airman
First Class William Burkharter and Kerry Thomas both skipped breakfast on the
morning of Sept. 11, 2001. For Thomas it was no big deal, as he planned to grab
a bite at the snack bar in the fine arts building on his way to class.
Burkharter was in the U.S. Air Force, a member of the USAF Honor Guard, working
in the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Because he skipped morning chow, he decided
to go out for a quick bite, and left his office. Minutes later his office was
engulfed in flames, as American Airlines Flight 77, from Washington to Los
Angeles, slammed into the Pentagon with 64 people on board, killing them and
another 125 people on the ground. Thankfully, Burkharter was not one of the
casualties.
Thomas caught bits and pieces of the news that morning as he made his way to
class, asking others if they had any more information. Few people he met that
morning knew of the events so early in their day. Once he told them about what
was happening they scrambled to find a radio, a television or some means of
finding out more. By 11 a.m., most of the Eau Claire community, and, indeed, the
rest of America, was bracing for whatever would happen next.
Thomas was an editorial columnist for The Spectator, and his editor called him
to ask him to write a new piece for that week's edition, which he did by early
afternoon. He reminded readers that, yes, this is a tragedy of national
proportions, and, yes, the coming days will be difficult.
But he also reminded readers that America would persevere, that the cost of our
freedoms is sometimes very high. He also reassured readers that we would eventually
return to some semblance of normalcy while attempting to keep the memories of
that tragic day alive so future generations will not forget.
By mid-afternoon Thomas had also phoned numerous campus officials and community
groups to suggest organizing a blood drive for the casualties in the East, as a
means of helping contribute the most urgently needed supplies to the relief
efforts. By evening it became clear that no other attacks were forthcoming, and
Thomas decided to attend that evening's Forum presentation by Helen Caldicott.
Caldicott
began the evening by expressing sympathy with America from her home country of
Australia, but then she went on to decry President Bush as the most evil and
corrupt president in American history. She told the audience of nearly 1,700
how it was our duty as Americans to physically storm the White House and remove
Bush.
The saddest part of the evening was the fact that almost 1,000 people actually
stayed and cheered this woman's presentation.
Twenty-nine days later Airman Burkharter came to Eau Claire, along with the
USAF marching band, for a resounding evening celebrating patriotism with songs
and music. During the performance a chance encounter between Thomas and
Burkharter gave each a chance to listen to the other's story about their
experiences on Sept. 11.
Now, a year later, as America reflects on that day in history, we will once
again take pause to remember. Let history never forget the evil and hatred that
was visited upon our shores that day. And let future generations be the judge
of the justice yet to come.