Been Here Before

To the Editor:

I was a young teacher in Seattle, WA when the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon was truck-bombed by anti-American extremists in 1983. My husband was a US Army officer advisor to the Lebanese Army at the time.

All of the military advisors were (supposedly) killed in the attack because it happened at lunch-time when they were dining in the cafeteria at the Embassy. I didn’t know at the time that my husband didn’t eat lunch that day because he had had severe stomach problems and thought he was coming down with something. I had waited by the phone for an eternity to get a phone call that I didn’t want to hear.

But after an entire day of waiting, I heard from an unknown voice with a thick Lebanese accent that he was OK. Afterwards, his job was to help in the aftermath and to send the personal effects of his slain advisory team home to the USA. He stayed there for another four months. I waited. I taught my classes. My students were my strength.

In 1990 he was called to Saudi Arabia with the 7th Corps for “the Gulf War.” We couldn’t communicate for seven months. I prayed every day, serious prayers. My children were my strength. For some unknown reason, he did come home.

In 2001 I see and hear the plane-bombing of the World Trade Towers. I am a teacher in Connecticut. My husband now is an Army Reservist with much “terrorist/Middle East” experience. I am concerned that he will go again.  I am concerned about the psyche of my Middle School students. I am positive. I teach with focus on my curriculum. My students are my strength. I pray. I am strong. I cry sometimes with my colleagues. We will get through this. I have been  here before.

 With deeply heartfelt  empathy  for the families, the victims of this horrendous act of terrorism in New York,

Sincerely,

Mary-Barrett Ashton Anders

15 Grand Place, Newtown            September 17, 2001