STONEWALK 2004: BOSTON, MA to NEW YORK, NY.

August 19th
By Daniel Jones

August 19 – Today we had a send off from the Orange Volunteer Fire Station. The town’s selectmen, police and fire chiefs and Michael, my cousin Meghan’s husband, joined us for a brief pull up route 1 after Adele shared some thoughts about her son, Tim, a fire fighter who died on 9/11. It was very moving and what had the potential to be a regular photo op for the local politicians turned very serious and somber following Adele’s remarks. She really helped center us for that moment and for the day. The selectmen stayed longer than I think they had planned.

We had fewer people today than I thought we would based on a show of hands yesterday of those who would be here. We had been blessed with so many people wanting to help that I had only been pulling on hills in order to give everyone a chance to share this task. Today, I was back on the bars (or “bahs” as Dot would say). We pulled for about 12 miles in order to get to Bridgeport. As we went down Route 1, a man named Frank came running up to the caisson. He noticed the UN flag and asked about its significance to the walk. He had been in Iraq in the army one year ago today when the UN headquarters was bombed there, killing the top UN official and 45 other people. He said he was very near the explosion when it happened and talked about pulling out survivors and bodies, and providing aid. He was very emotional as he talked. I discussed with him the purposes of our organization and the walk. We talked about the civilians killed that day and in the war. Frank talked about his career in the military going from infantry to a special unit now that provides aid to civilians. One of the most significant comments I have heard on the walk was something Frank said as he was leaving. He said that he has seen the devastation first hand, but asked us to remember that there were units like his in which the primary mission was to aid civilians. He wanted us to know that there were people like him over there.

I didn’t have a chance to really reflect on what Frank said until we stopped for a late morning break. I called Colleen and shared with her Frank’s story. I thought of Frank’s experiences and the experiences of all those who were responsible for recovery at WTC. I also hadn’t recalled until Frank brought it up that today was the one year anniversary. It seems more recent. I thought again of Joyce’s song, not another mother’s son, not another father’s daughter.

As we moved along, we had some significant hills. It was a refreshing reminder of the early days in eastern Connecticut. We received so much positive support from people coming out of their businesses or driving by in their cars. Frank caught up with us a little down the road and gave us a case of water. I hope he joins us for part of the walk or especially the speaking events. It was a hot afternoon and we were getting tired. At one point in Stratford, we paused briefly before coming up to a long and steep hill into Bridgeport. Everyone was drained. I felt anxious about getting up the hill because Lewis and Eric were not there. It seems that they willed us up hills in the past, Lewis with encouragement and Eric with a quiet determination to make it to the top. When we reached the top, many of us collapsed onto the grass on the side of the road.

There was time for a short break because the police in Bridgeport had confused us with the DNC2RNC walk. Several officers were very helpful in finding us a place to park the caisson for the night. Some were not so helpful. I spoke for several painful minutes with Andrea about the loss of Bob. As we were both talking and crying, a squad car drove by and an officer yelled out, “Four more years.” We made a long, sad procession to a fire station in east Bridgeport. The captain and fire fighters there were extremely gracious and helpful. We parked the caisson there for three nights.

That evening, Connie Taylor who lost her son, Brad, Anne Brodskey, researcher and author on Afghanistan, Cat, Loretta, Andrea, Dave and I went to an event sponsored by the organization “Promoting Enduring Peace.” Bruce Nichols and Ken-san also joined us. The event was on the sound in Milford. It was a beautiful location and a much needed respite after a physically and emotionally exhausting day. Jane ***** read a poem to begin the evening. We were also surrounded by her extraordinary art work depicting tragic scenes in Hiroshima. The evening’s program seemed most like us crying together as we shared our experiences, including our experiences living together. The day and Jane’s beautiful and evocative poem and Loretta’s and Andrea’s imminent departure had us all in quite a state. We all returned to Bruce’s house in Shelton for our last night together (or at least until Loretta and Andrea return again).

As I think about it, it is my chance to speak with Frank that really affected me today. I know from my family’s experiences that the police, fire fighters, steel workers, EMT’s, and anyone else involved in first rescue and then recovery went about that horrible job with extreme reverence. It was clear Frank did the same in Iraq, and I’m sure many did in Bali and Madrid. In the U2 song there is a line that “grace makes beauty of ugly things.” It is that beauty that Connie spoke about tonight when she thought briefly that the 9/11 attacks would lead to an end of violence since such beauty appeared to help us deal with it. It is the beauty that greets us and follows us on this walk.
Peace to all, Daniel