Alumni and Friends React To Tragedy October 12, 2001 I just received checked my Eau Claire account, therefore I just received the the thoughtful email. I am an UW-Eau Claire alumni, and I recently moved to Washington, DC in July. Well, things are finally back to a somewhat state of normality here in D.C. It is a month after the attacks and things are certainly a lot safer, or at least the feeling is a safe one here in the city. I had just gotten to work the day of the attacks and I was immediately sent home after the news was received that the Pentagon was attacked. I work approximately one mile from the Pentagon and I was absolutely horrified as these unexpected events were taking place. There was a surreal sense of danger and urgency for everyone who works downtown, like myself, to get out of the city. I honestly have never been that unsure or scared of what was going to happen in my life. As I was trying to get out of the city, I unfortunately took a wrong turn and drove past the Pentagon as it was engulfed in flames. This was certainly a sight I never expected to see. And the events that followed were just as unexpected, the city was chaos for about a week, there were Army National Guards on every corner and helicopters constantly circling in the sky, fighter planes everywhere, as well as police officers everywhere. At first I was somewhat scared but a moment of peace came over me on a night that many D.C. residents stood outside for a candlelight vigil. I realized that our spirits can not be broken, and that we were all one and will fight together in any way that we can to help. I think it is really important for this topic to be discussed because it is a frightening one. I think many students that are troubled, and the best place for them to begin to understand is in the classroom. Kind Regards, Kristy Vestal ’01 (A&S) UW-Eau Claire Alumni