The following are updates from Calvin alumni and friends offering their perspective on recent events. Send us your alumni news, and we will post it here.
Our daughter Ruth, and her husband Terry, plus a couple who they are in business with, decided to spend a few days in New York City in September. On the evening of September 10, the two couples decided to have dinner on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. This they enjoyed thoroughly even though it was somewhat pricey. After their dinner, they took some pictures of the lights of New York and the bridges over the Hudson River.They left the building by elevator about 10 p.m. not knowing that in 12 hours the building would not be there anymore. The events of 9-11 have left a bigger than average impact on them and us. In prayer, we thank God for keeping them and also for those who still mourn their lost loved ones. — Richard Strikwerda '64
Pray for Rose Hohmann and her two sons, Matthew and Gregory. Her husband, John Hohmann, was a firefighter lost in the WTC attacks. I was baptized with her and John. The memorial service was last Sunday. — Rebecca Warren '92
We continue to seek prayers for our families in the military. Many children who have not experienced life overseas are somewhat frightened and confused by the overwhelming military presence at our stateside bases. At school, they talk about which parent has been deployed and who might be next. Please remember them as well. God bless. — Maj Thomas Rietkerk USAF '89
Valeri Shafer '90 is a middle school teacher at Eastern Christian Middle School in New Jersey. She offers a teacher's perspective on the attacks and the blessing of watching children draw on faith to conquer their fears.
Dr. Mark DeVries '80, a psychologist for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids, is traveling to New York City with a group of area psychologists to assist the relief efforts through counseling. He leaves Wednesday, September 19, and will be in New York for seven to ten days.
Jill "Truc" Bui '95 was in the north tower when the first plane hit. She walked down 70 flights of stairs to exit the building. Twenty minutes later, the building collapsed. Read more about her story.
Lawyer David Gronsman ex'92 escaped from the 54th floor of the World Trade Center's north tower. The Grand Rapids Press tells his story.
Ed Hager ex'70
reports that he lost five colleagues who were on the 110th floor of 2-World
Trade Center, with no chance to escape. He asks for prayers for their
families.
Anthony Hop '96 worked in the World Trade Center. According to his employer, Morgan Stanley, Anthony was not scheduled to be at the WTC office that week—he was scheduled to be in Paris.
After being evacuated from the State Department Building in Washington, D.C., Chaplain (Colonel) Herman Keizer '65 reported to the Pentagon. He has been working as a chaplain representative of the Army Operation Center in the Pentagon. Read journal exerpts of his experiences.
Dirk
Pruis '82 is a vice president for Goldman Sachs, Inc. in Manhattan.
Dirk comes through the Trade Center on his way to work each morning, and
watched the tragedy unfold from a nearby building. The Alumni Office contacted
him by email just before noon on the 11th, and shares his
replies.
I live in Red Bank, NJ and work at AT&T in Middletown, NJ. On a clear day we can see the NY skyline from our building, and on Tuesday we saw the smoke billowing up from the towers. Thanks to you and The Banner for making available important Christian resources to guide us during these troublesome times. The only answer is the cross and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. — Cindy Smith '78
The New Jersey Alumni Chapter leaders and Eastern Christian School community ask prayer for the family of Bruce Van Hine—wife Ann and daughters Emily and Meghan. A Brooklyn firefighter, Bruce was called to the scene early and is presumed dead.
Bill Bogertman offers a New Jersey perspective, sharing stories of his church, friends and neighbors.
On Monday, Sept. 10, I visited Niagara Falls, NY while on vacation. I remember the double rainbows from the mist of the Falls. On Wednesday morning, I walked past the U.S. Consulate near my office in Toronto and looked upon the overflowing flowers and flags. America is in our thoughts and prayers. — Brian Schoon '89
The January Series Office heard from Robert Hughes, a Wall Street Journal reporter working in New York City who will be speaking at the January Series 2002.
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