Randomluck
June 11th, 2001, 07:40 AM
I received this via e-mail this morning & thought this might be a good place to do my part to pass it on.
Donna worked the bombing site. She recently received
an excerpt of Timothy McVeigh's book, and this is her response:
Dear Friends:
I will not forward the excerpt from the book that has
been written by two reporters and a couple of shrinks
about Tim McVeigh.
I fully expected to read this book. I wanted to know a
lot of things. And, I believe that the book is an
accurate account of what Tim McVeigh has said.
I wanted to know why he picked Oklahoma City. I wanted
to know if he implicated anyone else. I wanted to know if
he took responsibility.
But, I won't read the book. After reading the excerpt,
I know that it doesn't matter. It won't change a thing.
I have to address this. So, buckle up, because here
goes. And, before I start this tirade, I want to say that
what follows I know to be fact, because I saw it...
My husband set up a tent across the street from the
building, right next to Little Caesar's pizza, who
also set up a tent and made pizzas on the spot. Jim's
company donated all the coffee and tea and equipment,
and we funneled the water and cokes and other supplies
that were donated through that little blue tent and to
the rescuers, and the workers. So, we saw what happened,
and we know.
Tim McVeigh says, and this is the only quote from the
man you'll get from me; "It was my choice and my
control to hit that building when it was full.... I
understand what they felt in Oklahoma City. I have no
sympathy for them."
First of all, I don't think Tim McVeigh feels at all,
and second, no one in Oklahoma City asked for any
sympathy of any kind. Least of all Tim McVeigh's.
While he was cowering away from the scene, with ear
plugs in his ears, the people of my town were running
toward the mess he had created. There were not just
168 bodies to be recovered. There were almost 1000
injured people to be triaged and helped. That was
done. And, it was done with a speed and an accuracy
that stunned the people who came later to help us.
Our construction companies had cranes in place within
the first hour. Our hardware companies turned their
shelves over to the effort. Vets came to help with the
rescue animals.
Doctors came and worked along side construction
workers and lay people. Engineers kept that wreck
standing until all but three bodies were recovered.
When the wind blew, even a little,
that building swayed and groaned so loud, it was
audible for blocks.
When other States sent rescue units to help us, my
town fed them, clothed them, held their heads when
they vomited at the carnage and comforted them when
they cried.
Being close to that building wasn't easy during those
19 days. It was bloody, it stank, and it was dangerous.
And, in spite of this, we had trouble getting people to stand down
and take a rest.
Thank you, New York, and Phoenix, and Fairfax,
and Dade County, and Denver, and Everyone else who
came. You showed up on our door step like a good
neighbor, with your equipment, and tears in your eyes,
and we will forever be in your debt. You are heroes to
the person, and always in my prayers. Saint Michael's
heart beats in you all.
Buildings around the site stood wide open. Their
foundations sprung to the extent that their doors
wouldn't lock. But, locking the doors wouldn't have
mattered anyway, since the windows were all gone...
There was not one incident of looting. Not one.
And, Joe Q. American did everything else. By midnight,
that first day, we had an ample supply of blood for
all. I saw people lined up around the Oklahoma Blood
Institute. Hundreds of people lined up, waiting for
hours, to donate their blood. Businessmen in suits
talked casually to homeless people who felt the blast
and came.
And, the rescuers didn't just exist on dry sandwiches.
Oh no. Little Caesar's, the Outback, Subway, the local
Barbecue and Steak houses, Hooter's, Taco Bell, Sonic,
and others too numerous to mention, some from Texas
and Kansas fed everyone well. And for free.
This wasn't easy. Food had to be labeled as to date,
origin & time of arrival, and kept clean and cold in a
very inhospitable environment. And, this was done.
Everyone at the site was sick, but it was never
because of the food.
While we tended to the needs of the rescuers, the FBI,
the ATF, FEMA, and the Oklahoma City Police Department
worked around us, and under our feet, sometimes with
tweezers, and plastic bags, picking up minute pieces
of the barrels that held the explosives, and pieces a
big as the axle of the Ryder Rental truck. They were
professionals all, and sensitive to our feelings.
PLEASE, DON'T BUY THE BOOK... Send the $20 to the
Memorial, or to the Red Cross, or to the Education
fund for the children of the victims, or to the
Oklahoma City Fire Department, or the Phoenix Fire
Department, or Dade County, or to Feed the Children.
When the authors wanted to donate a portion of the
proceeds from the book to our Memorial, the Memorial
committee quietly said "no thank you." I am so glad,
and so proud of them. No sympathy, or no money needed
here. We'll handle it, thank you.
This is not about Tim McVeigh. It's about the human
spirit. And, it's here, and it thrives, and it asks no
sympathy.
Love to All,
Donna Prather
******************************************************************
From An OKC Fireman
I hope that Tuesday when Tim McVeigh's book hits the
newsstands, that NO ONE WILL BUY THIS BOOK...
This man is being given too much publicity and shows NO
REMORSE for the HORRIBLE CRIME that he committed!
He has admitted he is guilty. He refers to the 19
precious children he murdered as "collateral Damage"
and his only regret is that "their deaths proved to be
a public relations nightmare that undercut my cause."
OF ALL THE GALL!!!!
The pictures of these children and the adults will
always be in our minds... 168 innocent people died
that day.
This man murdered them ... please do not make him some
sort of hero... He wants part of the proceeds to go to
the Oklahoma City Memorial ...
The O/C MEMORIAL Declined the money......
Send the Money to the Memorial ...... but PLEASE DO
NOT BUY THIS BOOK....!!!!!!
Thank you.... And remember the precious children ... so
innocent....
Please pass this on to everyone you know, so this
monster does not get any more publicity... That's all
he wants, is the publicity.
Paul Hinchey,Captain
Guymon Fire Dept.
Guymon OK
Donna worked the bombing site. She recently received
an excerpt of Timothy McVeigh's book, and this is her response:
Dear Friends:
I will not forward the excerpt from the book that has
been written by two reporters and a couple of shrinks
about Tim McVeigh.
I fully expected to read this book. I wanted to know a
lot of things. And, I believe that the book is an
accurate account of what Tim McVeigh has said.
I wanted to know why he picked Oklahoma City. I wanted
to know if he implicated anyone else. I wanted to know if
he took responsibility.
But, I won't read the book. After reading the excerpt,
I know that it doesn't matter. It won't change a thing.
I have to address this. So, buckle up, because here
goes. And, before I start this tirade, I want to say that
what follows I know to be fact, because I saw it...
My husband set up a tent across the street from the
building, right next to Little Caesar's pizza, who
also set up a tent and made pizzas on the spot. Jim's
company donated all the coffee and tea and equipment,
and we funneled the water and cokes and other supplies
that were donated through that little blue tent and to
the rescuers, and the workers. So, we saw what happened,
and we know.
Tim McVeigh says, and this is the only quote from the
man you'll get from me; "It was my choice and my
control to hit that building when it was full.... I
understand what they felt in Oklahoma City. I have no
sympathy for them."
First of all, I don't think Tim McVeigh feels at all,
and second, no one in Oklahoma City asked for any
sympathy of any kind. Least of all Tim McVeigh's.
While he was cowering away from the scene, with ear
plugs in his ears, the people of my town were running
toward the mess he had created. There were not just
168 bodies to be recovered. There were almost 1000
injured people to be triaged and helped. That was
done. And, it was done with a speed and an accuracy
that stunned the people who came later to help us.
Our construction companies had cranes in place within
the first hour. Our hardware companies turned their
shelves over to the effort. Vets came to help with the
rescue animals.
Doctors came and worked along side construction
workers and lay people. Engineers kept that wreck
standing until all but three bodies were recovered.
When the wind blew, even a little,
that building swayed and groaned so loud, it was
audible for blocks.
When other States sent rescue units to help us, my
town fed them, clothed them, held their heads when
they vomited at the carnage and comforted them when
they cried.
Being close to that building wasn't easy during those
19 days. It was bloody, it stank, and it was dangerous.
And, in spite of this, we had trouble getting people to stand down
and take a rest.
Thank you, New York, and Phoenix, and Fairfax,
and Dade County, and Denver, and Everyone else who
came. You showed up on our door step like a good
neighbor, with your equipment, and tears in your eyes,
and we will forever be in your debt. You are heroes to
the person, and always in my prayers. Saint Michael's
heart beats in you all.
Buildings around the site stood wide open. Their
foundations sprung to the extent that their doors
wouldn't lock. But, locking the doors wouldn't have
mattered anyway, since the windows were all gone...
There was not one incident of looting. Not one.
And, Joe Q. American did everything else. By midnight,
that first day, we had an ample supply of blood for
all. I saw people lined up around the Oklahoma Blood
Institute. Hundreds of people lined up, waiting for
hours, to donate their blood. Businessmen in suits
talked casually to homeless people who felt the blast
and came.
And, the rescuers didn't just exist on dry sandwiches.
Oh no. Little Caesar's, the Outback, Subway, the local
Barbecue and Steak houses, Hooter's, Taco Bell, Sonic,
and others too numerous to mention, some from Texas
and Kansas fed everyone well. And for free.
This wasn't easy. Food had to be labeled as to date,
origin & time of arrival, and kept clean and cold in a
very inhospitable environment. And, this was done.
Everyone at the site was sick, but it was never
because of the food.
While we tended to the needs of the rescuers, the FBI,
the ATF, FEMA, and the Oklahoma City Police Department
worked around us, and under our feet, sometimes with
tweezers, and plastic bags, picking up minute pieces
of the barrels that held the explosives, and pieces a
big as the axle of the Ryder Rental truck. They were
professionals all, and sensitive to our feelings.
PLEASE, DON'T BUY THE BOOK... Send the $20 to the
Memorial, or to the Red Cross, or to the Education
fund for the children of the victims, or to the
Oklahoma City Fire Department, or the Phoenix Fire
Department, or Dade County, or to Feed the Children.
When the authors wanted to donate a portion of the
proceeds from the book to our Memorial, the Memorial
committee quietly said "no thank you." I am so glad,
and so proud of them. No sympathy, or no money needed
here. We'll handle it, thank you.
This is not about Tim McVeigh. It's about the human
spirit. And, it's here, and it thrives, and it asks no
sympathy.
Love to All,
Donna Prather
******************************************************************
From An OKC Fireman
I hope that Tuesday when Tim McVeigh's book hits the
newsstands, that NO ONE WILL BUY THIS BOOK...
This man is being given too much publicity and shows NO
REMORSE for the HORRIBLE CRIME that he committed!
He has admitted he is guilty. He refers to the 19
precious children he murdered as "collateral Damage"
and his only regret is that "their deaths proved to be
a public relations nightmare that undercut my cause."
OF ALL THE GALL!!!!
The pictures of these children and the adults will
always be in our minds... 168 innocent people died
that day.
This man murdered them ... please do not make him some
sort of hero... He wants part of the proceeds to go to
the Oklahoma City Memorial ...
The O/C MEMORIAL Declined the money......
Send the Money to the Memorial ...... but PLEASE DO
NOT BUY THIS BOOK....!!!!!!
Thank you.... And remember the precious children ... so
innocent....
Please pass this on to everyone you know, so this
monster does not get any more publicity... That's all
he wants, is the publicity.
Paul Hinchey,Captain
Guymon Fire Dept.
Guymon OK