By Kurt Kuhn
We tend to remember where we are when we hear big news. I was on an elevator last Thursday afternoon in downtown Austin. I had spent the day meeting with lawyers, and was on my way to teach at UT Law. My mind was focused on the things I had to do, so I hardly noticed when two office workers stepped on. As I overheard their conversation, I first heard about the tragic shootings at Fort Hood, the worst mass shooting ever on a U.S. military base.
Fort Hood is outside of Killeen, Texas, mostly in Bell County, and it is in the Third Court of Appeals district. I have visited Bell County numerous times, both for the campaign and professional and personal matters. It is hard to visit Killeen and not notice how much a part of daily life the military personnel are, and it is impossible to leave Killeen without feeling proud of our men and women in uniform and the families and community that support them.
When I first heard about the shootings at Fort Hood, my first reaction was concern and sorrow for those affected. But like so many others, my second reaction was that I had to do something. When faced with the enormity of a tragedy like the shootings, it is easy to feel like there is nothing really meaningful we can do. My answer was small─I wanted to give blood.
I soon learned that many other people across Central Texas, without any request, had the same reaction. Even here in Austin, sixty miles away from the shootings, the local blood donation site was overflowing with walk-ins. The community reaction reminded me of the response when Hurricane Katrina hit, and ordinary people put aside their daily lives to try to help. Personally, Katrina inspired me to become involved with the Red Cross of Central Texas, and I’ve been proud to serve on the Board of Directors in recent years. In response to Fort Hood, I made an appointment to donate blood this week.
A day before that appointment, on a beautiful Austin morning, I stood with thousands of others to walk up Congress Avenue and honor our veterans. Veterans Day was all the more poignant in the wake of the tragic events at Fort Hood. It was humbling to see the generations of men and women, both old and young, who have served so bravely. And it was touching to see the children and spouses lining the parade route with pictures of their loved ones in uniform.
As I gave my two pints of red blood cells yesterday morning, I could not help but think that marching in a parade or donating blood are tiny gestures compared to what our men and women in uniform give us. But all Americans serve in some way, and in times of crisis ordinary Americans rise to service.
To all our men and women who are or have served in our military, thank you for your service. You inspire us all.
Please consider making a donation to your own local blood bank or hospital to make sure Central Texas is always prepared in any emergency.
