Shortly after we arrived at Pearl Harbor, I noticed a table outside the gift shop. The table was filled with books about Pearl Harbor and a special book of the 75th Anniversary Edition. At the table was a gentleman who turned out to be Allan Seiden, the author of the book. I just had to wheel Ed over to meet the author. I knew they would have a lot to talk about! I introduced Allan to Ed. They had a lovely chat. Both seemed to be happy to meet the other!
Ed’s Guardian,Terri, gifted Ed with a Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary Edition signed by the author who was so pleased to share a few moments with Ed. (Ed has since spent many hours reading the book and studying the pictures!) I also purchased a copy and asked both Allan and Ed to write something in the book for me. This book is now a sweet treasure of a beautiful memory!
Ed received so much attention it was overwhelming yet wonderful at the same time. We moved slowly through the grounds allowing visitors to have their moments with Ed. When it was time for the movie (a fantastic historical documentary), we moved toward the auditorium to wait in line. Survivors do not wait in line! They are escorted to the front of the line. The crowd parted. We could hear the whispers as we passed by those in the line. Ed was mesmerized by the documentary. I think if they played it again, he would have stayed to watch again and see what he missed the first time. I know I would have!
As the lights came up slowly, there was an announcement. “We have a Pearl Harbor Survivor in the theatre. Please remain seated until he has left the building and is on his way to the tour boat”. As I wheeled this gracious man toward the exit, the entire audience stood and applauded him! I couldn’t hold back the tears. He choked up a little and waved his hand to acknowledge the attention. As we motored toward the USS Arizona, here was very little conversation from anyone on the boat. And then, it was only in whispers. Ed was scanning the shoreline in all directions. He later shared with us that he was looking for anything he could remember. He said the entire shoreline was nothing at all like he remembered. “Every inch of it is different.” A lot can change in 75 years!
When we arrived at the USS Arizona, the mood was somber. Only the occasional whisper was heard. Ed was again escorted through first. In his Pearl Harbor Survivor hat, he commands attention everywhere he goes. Those visitors waiting for the boat to go back to the museum, quickly noticed Ed was special and the cameras were raised. Dozens of photographs were snapped before we had entered the area. I walked as slow as I could. I wanted to allow Ed the time to process what he was seeing. I knew he wasn’t coming back. It also gave visitors to the museum a Survivor to see, think about, pray for, and honor as they experienced this sacred, hallowed, historical site!
Ed was quiet, but taking in everything. He doesn’t miss much. As we slowly entered the area right above the USS Arizona, bombed and sunken on that dreadful day, Ed caught sight of the small oil slick creeping across the waters… We knew this could be difficult for him. I held his wheelchair right there for just another moment. The oil seeps up from the tanks of the ship. It’s a constant reminder of the lives lost inside that ship and around the harbor. But it was inside the USS Arizona Memorial… facing the wall with the names of all those who perished in the ship that day… that literally took his breath away! The tears flowed. Though he tried several times, he was unable to speak. Visitors were so touched by his reaction they were watching him and wiping their own tears as well. He sobbed as he finally was able to say, “There’s just so many!” (looking at all the names)… long pause… “They never even knew what hit ‘em”…. long thoughtful pause…then he whispered… “We were just kids.” We stayed by his side and said nothing. We held the space for his healing. He asked our guide, Dan, a question about an area of names with more recent dates. Dan explained that those are veterans who were assigned to the USS Arizona who survived the day and requested to have their remains returned to the final resting place of their shipmates. This awareness brought more tears. With his final look at the wall, Ed took a deep breath and said… ”There was no place to go – no place!… Nowhere to run!” He shook his head a few times then he fell silent. He was silent for several minutes. I have no doubt he was praying as he again looked at those names. Then I noticed he was shifting his weight and I asked him what he needed. I could see he was going to stand up. He stood and he saluted! Everyone in sight, men and women alike, broke composure and the tears flowed.
When he was ready, Ed looked at me and I knew it was time to move on. As we headed back toward the boat, we stopped along the railing to see the actual ship through the water below us. Ed struggled to stand up again. He wanted to see everything possible. The visitors were incredibly generous and gracious to Ed. He wanted for nothing! Our Guide never left our side and gave Ed his undivided attention. He let Ed take his time at every view, at every sign, and every display. Ed read everything he saw and he asked dozens of questions of our guide. As the museum began closing, we began moving towards the exit. We weren’t ready. We were hungry and tired…but we weren’t ready to walk away. When we did, it was with the exhilaration of knowing each of us were deeply affected by this life changing day.
When I learned of the incident at the Cincinnati Zoo, I was deeply saddened. For everyone involved! For the child who, in his innocence, wanted to play with or swim with the gorilla and ended up in fear of him. For the mother who endured the terror that her child might be gravely injured from the fall and/or killed by the gorilla. For the bystanders who felt powerless to help the child. For the zookeepers who, though trained, were forced into action they hoped to never take. For the other gorillas who witnessed the tragedy of their friend/mate being killed. And for every parent who felt “that could have been my child”.
As I watched the video I was mesmerized. The child was in awe of the huge gorilla. The gorilla was intrigued by the boy. Neither knew what to do with the other. Bystanders didn’t know what to do. There was too much at risk to hesitate too long and too much at stake to act too quickly. The gorilla made the ultimate decision easier when he became excited (agitated as the zoo explains his animal behavior.) In his excitement, he chose not to follow the commands of the zookeepers. He chose to remain with his new discovery and he didn’t seem interested in sharing! What some saw as “protecting” the boy, I saw as keeping the new discovery to himself. There is a huge difference in intention and energy.
As I listened to the video, I was listening for voices in prayer. And I heard it! At least one bystander recognizing we are NEVER powerless, responded in the best possible way -with prayer! She was asking God to protect the child. It was perfect! I was pleased to hear the mother, in her desperation, remaining somewhat calm and trying to let her son know she was there!
Animal experts determined that the gorilla was not going to release the boy with ease and grace. His desire to hold onto his special new discovery was strong enough to create an unsafe situation for the child and the keepers. Harambe, the gorilla, had no idea this was a human boy who needed to be handled gently to keep him safe from injury. His animal instincts naturally kicked in and he responded by backing away from his keepers and making sure his discovery remained in his possession.
The decision to save the child was absolutely the right and best decision. And given this circumstance, there seemed only one way to save him. We simply cannot fault the zookeepers for saving the child in what appears to all animal experts as the only viable option Harambe gave them. Harambe was not being maternal and comforting the child. He was being possessive. We can only guess at what would have happened if the situation had continued longer.
Over the next few days, I was more deeply saddened. Not by the situation itself as I had already changed my focus to the positives that came from this event and I was so happy the child was not seriously injured. The child does not need to be “scarred for life” because of this incident. It can be handled well and he can heal gracefully from it. What saddened me was the outrage from thousands of others who were NOT there but who decided they could and should judge and condemn the parents and the zookeepers. Suddenly, everyone is a parenting expert and a wild animal expert. Suddenly, there is blame to assign and all those NOT witness to it are assigning the blame. I read posts inciting radical racism as well as posts calling for the mutilation of the parents. I read blogs and posts about how the parents are to blame and should be harshly punished. I’ve read blogs and posts about how zoo’s in general are to blame. I see comments about how the parents should have to pay for everything from the enclosure redesign to paying for the death of Harambe.
I’m not going to debate whether we should have zoo’s. I’m not going to debate whether the parents are good enough, watchful enough, smart enough, or … enough! I’m not going to debate whether the enclosure (safe for 30 years) was good enough! I didn’t witness the incident so I cannot judge this incident in any way. However, I can be ever so grateful the child is alive and well. I can be ever so grateful no adults went into the enclosure which certainly would have created a very different outcome! And… I am ever so mindful that for the Grace of God – that was not my child or grandchild. Because we cannot see their every move nor know their every thought nor anticipate their every action. Accidents happen. Emergency rooms are filled with the results of accidents and incidents. Thousands of parents can speak to the angst of having their child MIA while in a mall, shopping center, public gathering, etc. I read another story from someone who had a very similar incident happen with her son falling into a zoo enclosure. The difference for her? Everyone was helpful. Everyone wanted to make certain that she, her son, and the guy who saved him, were safe and “alright”! Everyone cared about them! Everyone cared enough to make sure they were okay after the incident. People cared… Everyone CARED enough!
When did we stop caring enough?
#harambe #Cincinnatizoo #parenting #careenoughtomakeitbetter #lovewins