On 7/16/15
A week ago today an armed shooter took aim at a military recruiting center. Then proceeded to drive to a base and shoot and kill four Marines and one Navy Sailor. In the process he shot and wounded a police officer. Normally this wouldn’t bother me so much… But the recruitment center he attacked of literally two miles down the road from me. The officer shot is a cousin to my husband’s long time neighbors husband. To think that if this man had chosen to instead turn against civilians instead of the military terrifies me. To know that five men are now dead because one man refused to be helped terrifies me. To know that this could happen in my city angers me.
They say they’re not sure if he was tied in with ISIS and frankly I don’t care if he was or not. Because this attack was meant to cause fear. It was meant to bring forth a reaction. And it did.
People in my community are pulling together. Donations are pouring in for these families of the fallen. People are bringing forth food and drink for volunteers in the heat. People are lining up just to place a flag on a piece of land where shots were fired. People are praying. People are loving one another. People are coming together stronger than we’ve ever been. And that’s the way to react to terror.
With love. With understanding. With a sense of community. With hope. With prayer. I’m proud to be from Chattanooga, Tennessee. And I’m proud of my community.
