The day I got to call home:
On July 16, 2015, I got the chance to call home. When word got out that there was an active gunman just three miles down the road from my workplace (a school), I watched something truly powerful. I watched fear and worry come across my co-workers’ faces. When the announcement was made that we were going into lockdown, I watched every single one of my co-workers pick up their cell phones, me included. I was able to call my family and tell them I was okay. I was able to say, “I love you, I am safe, and I will keep you updated.” I listened to my co-workers make the same call.
I drive by this tragic scene every day on my way to and from work. I see countless American Flags, bouquets of flowers, and many people praying for those we lost. In light of this scene, it strikes me that the men we lost did not have the opportunity to call home. The families who lost their loved ones did not get that phone call. They did not receive the call that would have eased their minds. My heart and prayers are with those families who lost a husband, son, father, brother, cousin, and friend that day. We lost men who served and protected our land and our freedom. My heart and prayers are with this community as we stand together to mourn the passing of our community members.
As a Chattanooga resident, that event became so real for me. While we have heard of tragic shootings and attacks in our country, it now sounds cliché to say, “I didn’t think it would happen here.” It does happen “here,” wherever that “here” is in our country. I hope we can see how important one little phone call can be in our lives. Feel blessed and grateful that you were able to call home that day.
God Bless,
Molly Francis
On July 16, 2015, I got the chance to call home. When word got out that there was an active gunman just three miles down the road from my workplace (a school), I watched something truly powerful. I watched fear and worry come across my co-workers’ faces. When the announcement was made that we were going into lockdown, I watched every single one of my co-workers pick up their cell phones, me included. I was able to call my family and tell them I was okay. I was able to say, “I love you, I am safe, and I will keep you updated.” I listened to my co-workers make the same call.
I drive by this tragic scene every day on my way to and from work. I see countless American Flags, bouquets of flowers, and many people praying for those we lost. In light of this scene, it strikes me that the men we lost did not have the opportunity to call home. The families who lost their loved ones did not get that phone call. They did not receive the call that would have eased their minds. My heart and prayers are with those families who lost a husband, son, father, brother, cousin, and friend that day. We lost men who served and protected our land and our freedom. My heart and prayers are with this community as we stand together to mourn the passing of our community members.
As a Chattanooga resident, that event became so real for me. While we have heard of tragic shootings and attacks in our country, it now sounds cliché to say, “I didn’t think it would happen here.” It does happen “here,” wherever that “here” is in our country. I hope we can see how important one little phone call can be in our lives. Feel blessed and grateful that you were able to call home that day.
God Bless,
Molly Francis