Memorial Day Salute

Until the 1960’s, it was called Decoration Day.  Perhaps the Hippy-Dippy 60’s interpreted “decoration” differently and that term no longer carried the meaning of honoring our fallen soldiers.  Regardless, it is a day to remember that there are those who do extraordinary things for causes that are often seen from the general public as “someplace else,” or noteworthy, yet far and remote from one’s average, daily life.

We all need to turn off the TV, stop texting, or shooting electronic birds at pigs and take a moment to think about those who have and are willing to sacrifice, often with their lives, to support and promote what we all take for granted – the ability to vote freely, drive cars on extensively maintained road systems, live where we want (generally) and say whatever we want (with some qualified restrictions).  We need to stop, take a deep breath and remember that we are not here just by our own doing, but by the strength and bravery of many before us.

I have the highest respect for those in the military and their sacrifice, sometimes the ultimate one, but I would like to point out that there are others that deserve a memorial nod as well.  They are the common Joe or Jane, that anonymous person, who has appeared in the more dire circumstances to lend a hand, dig through rubble, or risk their own life to save others.

The first that comes to mind is Rick Rescorla.  He was the Head of Security at Morgan Stanley who for months had prepared, then safely evacuated nearly 4,000 people from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  He perished after he went back into the building to try to save others.   In 1985, an 8.1 Magnitude earthquake violently shook Mexico City, killing over 10,000 people (with some estimates closer to 40,000).  Common people, mostly untrained and with no gear or tools, spontaneously formed teams and started sorting through the rubble.  Close to four thousand people were saved, but over 130 rescuers lost their lives in that effort.  In 1998, a man swept away in a terribly muddy wall in a Laguna Canyon mudslide, plucked a 9-month infant from the muck and handed her to a rescuer before digging out himself.

There are those who give so much and I would just like to take a moment to say thank you and another moment just to say nothing.  I just want to pause and take a moment to breathe deeply and feel the wonder of life and feel very grateful that on this planet there are many with much to give.  I’m glad there is Memorial Day.  We need to remember.

The Importance of Teaching

This is the story of a teacher who believed that teaching and practicing what you teach is the most important thing you can do. And he gave his life for it.

Rick Rescorla was born a British citizen in 1939, and was a member of the British Army. He eventually came to the United States and enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought in Viet Nam, where he received several decorations for valor. In the early 80’s he joined Dean Witter Reynolds, which eventually became Morgan Stanley in 1997, as the Vice President for Security.

The company was located in the World Trade Center and as early as 1992, he warned the New York Port Authority (WTC owner) that it was vulnerable to terrorist attack. His warning was unheeded and the following year, terrorists attacked on the WTC with a truck bomb. Rescorla was there, however, and he helped lead the building occupants to safety.

Rescorla reasoned that the threat was still very real, so he tried to convince management to move from the WTC. Astonishingly, he even speculated that the towers would be terrorist targets for a plane crash. Unfortunately, the lease with the WTC was not due to expire for several more years and costly to change, so they refused to move. Since they were staying, Rescorla insisted that he be allowed to practice a building evacuation every 3 months so that every employee would be well versed on how to safely get out of the building. And he did. He practiced every 3 months, all 2700 employees, down from the 47th floor to the ground level. Everyone. No exceptions.

September 11, 2001. A plane hit Tower 1 and WTC management told everyone to Shelter In Place in Tower 2 to avoid falling debris from Tower 1. Rescorla immediately saw the danger in staying so he ordered an evacuation of all Morgan Stanley employees. He grabbed his bullhorn and sang patriotic songs to employees to calm them as they walked down the stairs.

In the end, all 2700 Morgan Stanley employees survived, along with the 1000 or so others who came with them. The last time anyone saw Rick Rescorla was when he and 5 other employees went back into Tower 2 to try to rescue more people.

This is why we practice emergency drills. It is why we disrupt your class, your test, and your meeting. We need to learn emergency procedures, and know them so well, we could do them without even thinking. We all need to learn what Rick gave his life for – to learn how to do what is needed during times of crisis, to know where and how to evacuate, or drop, cover and hold on, or shelter in place.

Learn more about Rick Rescorla's incredible life in the book "Heart of a Soldier" A Story of Love, Heroism, and September 11th" by James B. Stewart.

An opera of the same name just opened this fall at the San Francisco Opera. Read all about it at the Opera's Website.

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This piece was originally published by me on August 11, 2011, as Great ShakeOut Message No. 1 at California State University, Fullerton.