Early Morning Tragedy

Life goes on or does it? This reporter cannot get last week’s tragedy that occurred at Smith Mountain Lake out of her mind and heart.

It was an early morning interview by WDBJ TV reporter, Alison Parker, 24, on a cool, crisp, clear day.  Being interviewed was Vicki Gardner, the executive director of the local Chamber of Commerce, about tourism at the lake. The videographer with Alison for WDBJ was Adam Ward, 27.

These two young people were out early doing their jobs when the unthinkable happened.

An apparently disturbed, disgruntled former WDBJ employee came from behind and killed these two in cold blood, also shooting Mrs. Gardner who survived but with serious gunshot wounds.

I still cannot believe that this would happen in our beloved state of Virginia to these young people who were just beginning on their chosen careers.

Alison’s boyfriend also worked at the TV station and Adam’s fiancée had just worked her last day before moving to start another job before her marriage to Adam.

My heart goes out to their families, friends and their work colleagues at WDBJ TV.  Everyone’s lives are forever changed!

How can a person become so fanatic without anyone noticing?  In retrospect, other people who had contact with this Flanagan person knew that he was hard to deal with but who could imagine THIS!  It is scary!

How does one foretell the personality of a person just hired?  What kind of background checks can be required?  How can we, as American citizens, be made aware in our daily dealings with people?

I don’t know the answers to these questions but I do know one thing I have learned in past years.  Be aware of your surroundings at all times.  I learned this behind the old Leggett’s in Farmville when someone tried to grab my purse as I was putting things into my car trunk.  The kids were watching from the store’s back door as I screamed and, thankfully, the man ran away.

We shouldn’t have to be paranoid in our free America but it’s better to be safe than sorry!

When we were in school, whoever thought about having police present during a school day?  Visitors could come and go but school shootings have changed that.

We traveled by plane on many trips but whoever thought there would be such a change in travel?  Now, luggage is scanned, your body is scanned and many items are not allowed.

This country needs to get back to the basics and the #1 basic is GOD.

We are living in a time when fewer people know or even seek God.  We need to make this nation a God-fearing one and to do that we must turn to God, unite and attend church.

Our country was built by our ancestors who respected God, lived by the rules and treated each other as they wanted to be treated.

Let’s pray that we can have a safe place to live by doing just that!

Life does go on for the families in Roanoke and elsewhere but, sadly, without their loved ones who rightfully should be alive.

Prayers are lifted for family and friends of Alison Parker and Adam Ward to give them strength in their sorrow.  Get well wishes are sent to Vicki Gardner for her recovery.

 God Bless.