The most significant events I responded to included the hospital shooting at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington in June 1994, the B-52 crash that happened there three days later, and the Khobar Towers terrorist bombing in Saudi Arabia in June 1996. I have heard many stories. They are stories of trauma, tragedy, pain, loss, grief, evil, good, kindness, support, heroism, dignity, survival, and hope. After such terrible events, especially those resulting from human violence, it is difficult to focus on anything other than the tragedy and loss. Paradoxically, these events also tend to highlight the very best in humanity.
Communities come together and support each other.
People come to appreciate each other in ways they hadn't before. Although we recognize how vulnerable we really are and how easily life can be snatched away, we also learn how strong we can be in difficult times. I walked by officer Chestnut no more than five minutes before his life was tragically taken. He was just an officer, like other officers, doing his job guarding the door. I paid no particular notice of him.