275 What a day – Jan. 6

What a day – Jan. 6

My shock and bewilderment began in the afternoon of Jan. 6 and continued throughout the evening. These feelings prevail and probably will for months, if not years, to come. It is so hard to process what happened.

We try very hard not to be political in our writing of these blogs. I am speaking, not of politics, but what was witnessed by all of us on this day of despair.

Watching the spectacle through the eyes of the TV cameras was alarming, sobering, and depressing. I could not believe what I was seeing. Washington DC was under siege by its own people. This couldn’t be true. They could not have entered the building, which has been closed to the public during the pandemic. But the cameras did not lie. There they were, streaming through the majestic halls of the nation’s center of government.

It was so hard to believe. Those of you, like me, who visit the city often remember how the guards at the door look you over so carefully, poke a wooden stick through your handbag, and motion you in once the process is complete. This is true of all the buildings during non-pandemic times, so what was different this time. The guards are very professional but stern and maintain an air of authority.

I find it hard to believe that something was not amiss that day. How could this breach happen with these dedicated individuals at the door!

Living about 60 miles from the nation’s capital, we frequent the city on many, many occasions. In fact this past Thanksgiving, we took a drive just to get out from our stay-at-home situation to the city. It was a nice day with little traffic, as we thought would be the case.

What we saw could have been a warning of what was to come. The fencing around the White House was alarming. We had always strolled in the area where the holiday trees were decorated, but this year it was closed off. 

When we walked on the other side of the beautiful building, again we were shut off. Ugly fences surrounded the majestic structure with signs of warning to stay out. 

Police patrolled all around the perimeter. We thought what is the reason for all of this? We have visited the city for more than 50 years and have never seen this type of restriction.

Little did we know, this type of barrier would be needed, but not at the White House. We were upset that day but had no idea of what was to come. Fences of this type would have helped stop the insurrection that took place at the Capitol. Why was it left so vulnerable! Hopefully, the answers will come soon.

When our country was attacked on 9/11, we grieved together and blamed the foreign powers. But this time, the destruction and assault were by our own citizens to stop the tabulating of the electoral college.

As I watched it all play out, I thought of other situations of lockdowns and attacks. I hope the congressional leaders who were present during this horrible event will think of the schools and how children, teachers, and staff feel when they go into lockdown and aren’t sure what is happening, as well as others who are involved in attacks at stores, malls, etc.

Hopefully, these leaders will do more now than offer thoughts and prayers when this occurs.

I guess I should have been better prepared for what I saw on that terrible afternoon. One warning was when I received hazard pay for the first time in my life. I have worked as an election official for several years since I retired. This year we meticulously followed all the CDC pandemic guidelines. I never felt unsafe and helped run a secure, flawless election in the state of Virginia. 

A month or so after receiving the regular pay, I was mailed an extra check labeled “hazard pay.” I was shocked! Now I know why this was done. I guess we were taking our lives in our hands, not only for the virus but for what others may have done. 

This terrible event will be remembered in the annals of history as a threat to our democracy. I never felt the democracy was in danger, and the congressional members who went ahead with the electoral vote were proof that the democracy prevailed. 

I have always felt such pride whenever I visited the Capitol, especially statuary hall. It is a majestic area that invokes the enormity of the history of our nation. And on that horrible day, here were people who were storming the area, taking selfies, and acting extremely irreverent. 

The democracy will prevail; I know deep in my heart. But I warn my children, their children, their friends, and all other citizens below the age of 50, beware of this type of event that can happen and be ready to defend our nation.

I continue to shed tears as I have done almost daily during the pandemic, but these tears were for our nation that must stand tall and proud. 

                                           Frances