Posted 9/19/01 Miles away, Rush City responds to tragedy By Danielle Strenke ìI remember where I was when they hit Pearl Harbor. We lost 2,400 there. This feels worse. They take civiliansñparents, children...I canít think of anything worse.î The words of a Rush City man who discussed Tuesdayís tragic events over coffee with other Rush City residents at the Grant House Thursday morning. While none of the group of senior citizens have direct ties to anyone involved in the tragedies in New York City and Washington, D.C., they feel the effects strongly. ìYou never knew New York was so close,î one man said. ìThis will affect everyone for sure.î He said his son had recently visited the top of the World Trade Center, and stayed in a hotel directly across the street from the towers. For his son, the attacks in NYC seemed that much closer. Another woman at the table was concerned about a brother, who was enroute from California Tuesday when his plane was diverted to Salt Lake City. On Thursday, she had yet to speak with him to find out how heís holding up, and when he might be home. ìMy mother ñ who is 96 years old and a resident of Hillcrest ñ knows whatís going on,î she said. ìShe called this morning to find out if weíve heard from him.î The group all echoed the same reaction when the news first broke ñ disbelief. ìAfter that first plane hit, I thought it was a tragic accident. It was just total disbelief. Most people just didnít think anything like this could happen here ñ in the U.S.î The group discussed the possibility of the U.S. going to war. ìIf we do go to war, this one will be so much different,î one man said. He was confident no action would be taken without concrete evidence of the entities behind the attacks. ìI donít think weíll just start bombing an enemy,î he said. In the Rush City schools, the atmosphere was noticeably quiet last Tuesday. Although nothing was changed in scheduling at Rush City High School, the events of the day took precedence over everything. ìIt is business as usual here,î said Principal Mark Saari. ìGovernor Ventura asked that things be as normal as possible in our schools. But we had radios on all day in the classrooms. I know this has had an impact on the kids.î He said the school had received a release from Gov. Ventura, requesting school officials to carry on with classes and activities as planned last week. It also advised to be aware of security in their buildings, and ask all staff to follow security procedures, such as wearing I.D. badges. Superintendent Tim Eklund had requested that nothing be changed in the schedule, with the exception of cancelling any events set to take place in the Twin Cities through the end of last week. Saari said there were no athletic activities or other events scheduled for the metro area as far as he knew. Senior Jeremy Hanson, who was crowned as Rush Cityís homecoming king the day before the tragedy, said hearing the news was unreal to him. ìWe were in woodshop when someone came in and told us the news. Then we just listened to the radio all day. I was really shocked, I started shaking. Seeing the footage really affected me.î He said he would remember this for a long time, but was concerned that the country may go to war without enough evidence against the likely terrorists. ìThey need to do a lot of investigating before that happens,î he said. ìThereís no sense going to war it itís just about one guy.î Homecoming queen Shawna Werner was also bothered about the prospect of war. ìThe people who did this need to pay, but the thought of war is scary, because the people who would be going are my ageñ friends, and people who graduated last year.î She remembers hearing her grandfather talk about the events at Pearl Harbor nearly 60 years ago. Hearing the accounts of Tuesday, she thinks she knows how he felt. ìHe was in World War II, and he talked a lot about Pearl Harbor. Itís just so amazing that anything like this could happen,î she said. She said the news was delivered to her first morning class, but the classmate didnít know if it was a joke or not after hearing it on the radio. ìOur teacher had the office turn the radios on, and we heard about it,î she said. Much of the studentís conversations throughout the week were about the tragic events, during a week where they should have been only concerned with homecoming festivities Friday. Werner said her American Government class discussed the events extensively. ìWe were given an essay assignment on whether we would give up some of our liberties and freedoms to fight terrorism. It should be interesting to hear what people have to say,î she said. At Jacobson Elementary, Principal Vern Koepp sent out a memo Tuesday, asking staff to be especially vigilant in their attention to school security. ìIf you see someone without an ID you should politely remind them to go to the office and sign in to get a temporary ID,î the memo read. He also sent suggestions on dealing with the subject with students, which came from the National Elementary Principalsí Association. These included reassuring students and families that school safety plans are in place, answer questions honestly with age-appropriate facts, being alert of changes in childrenís behavior, and letting them know they are cared for. He said class activities went on as normal last week. ìIt was business as usual, with the Governorís encouragement to be extra vigilant.î On Thursday, the Minnesota State High School League encouraged schools across the state to observe a moment of silence during all athletic events through this week, with a suggested recitation beforehand, and the singing of the national anthem following. A moment of silence was observed before the Tigersí homecoming game Friday night, as well as before the varsity volleyball game last Thursday. Although it is insignificant in comparison, economically, the Rush City Regional Airport was feeling the affects of the ban on all flights last week. While limited commercial flights were allowed beginning last Thursday, private planes and flight school planes were still under a no-fly ban. Mark Nelson, owner of Hawk Aviation, said he was able to continue conducting ground lessons last week for his 30 students, but was forced to cancel many flight lessons. ìWith our company, itís had a pretty significant impact,î he said. He said after the ban on commercial flight was lifted, he received word that other flights were allowed. ìWe did have one plane take off after they lifted the ban briefly, but it was reinstated so the plane had to land.î Nelson said he had no idea when the ban would be lifted, and it was just a matter of waiting for word from the FAA. Whether or not people in Rush City were directly connected to this tragedy, it will obviously have a lasting impact on all of us. ©Post Review