My wife and kids were out of town, and I'd just finished a big project at work, so I went to my boss and asked for a few days off to go up to Moore. I got there on the morning of the 22nd. A few photos are below. Two Marines from my command came with me, and we got to put in 18 hour days for three days.
In those three days I saw some of the most tragic thing I've ever seen, in many ways more tragic than when I was deployed to Afghanistan. I also saw unbridled human kindness. Total charity. Perfect love between total strangers. It restored my faith in humanity. It wasn't the govnerment that was putting peoples lives back together - it was individuals doing anything they could to help their fellow man.
A brief thank you to Jeff Chesnut owner of Washita Retrievers in Rush Springs, OK. He boarded my 12 week old, and my pregnant female while I was gone. He took them in on a moments notice, and didn't let me pay him a red cent. A gentleman and a scholar.
A few photos:
Here is the Towers Elementary school. This school lost 9 children.
Even in all of the destruction, the flag was still flying.
This is the gas station at the corner of 4th and Telephone. The tornado took it's youngest victim here, a 4 month old child.
The radio in this police car was still working. We actually listened to it to try and find out what was going on.
My Marines, folding flags. Right after this flag was folded, we heard a dog bark. After about 20 minutes of digging, and pushing over a wall, we found a little lap-dog trapped in a corner. We gave it to a police officer, and found out that the next day the dog had been picked up by it's owner.
There is still a TON of work to be done. If you've got a few spare days and you're in OK, you should consider heading out there and putting yourself to work. Even the most menial tasks will make a difference for someone! Every little bit helps!
Best,
Ray
In those three days I saw some of the most tragic thing I've ever seen, in many ways more tragic than when I was deployed to Afghanistan. I also saw unbridled human kindness. Total charity. Perfect love between total strangers. It restored my faith in humanity. It wasn't the govnerment that was putting peoples lives back together - it was individuals doing anything they could to help their fellow man.
A brief thank you to Jeff Chesnut owner of Washita Retrievers in Rush Springs, OK. He boarded my 12 week old, and my pregnant female while I was gone. He took them in on a moments notice, and didn't let me pay him a red cent. A gentleman and a scholar.
A few photos:
Here is the Towers Elementary school. This school lost 9 children.
Even in all of the destruction, the flag was still flying.
This is the gas station at the corner of 4th and Telephone. The tornado took it's youngest victim here, a 4 month old child.
The radio in this police car was still working. We actually listened to it to try and find out what was going on.
My Marines, folding flags. Right after this flag was folded, we heard a dog bark. After about 20 minutes of digging, and pushing over a wall, we found a little lap-dog trapped in a corner. We gave it to a police officer, and found out that the next day the dog had been picked up by it's owner.
There is still a TON of work to be done. If you've got a few spare days and you're in OK, you should consider heading out there and putting yourself to work. Even the most menial tasks will make a difference for someone! Every little bit helps!
Best,
Ray