Daily for May 29, 2020

Six-year-old Abilene Crandall is climbing up the walls .
Literally .
Under normal circumstances , at this time on a Wednesday morning , she would be in her kindergarten classroom .
Her older sister , Sonoma , who has left her dining-table-turned-desk to watch Abilene hop her way up the door frame , would be having a “ morning meeting ” with her third grade classmates .
And I would be traveling the country , covering the 2020 presidential election for the Monitor .
But now I ’ m in the Crandalls ’ kitchen , wondering at what point I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic has turned Americans ’ lives inside out and upside down .
Routines of work and school have been disrupted , along with most social interaction .
Families have been confined at home in what ’ s shaping up to be the longest , most intense stretch of togetherness in anyone ’ s memory .
Tasked with finding a family to profile in this “ new normal , ” I realized I might as well focus on my own .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While I may not be related to the Crandalls , we consider ourselves family .
Six years ago , when my sister went off to college , my mom began working for them as a nanny .
Our families have been intertwined ever since , sharing holidays , wiggly teeth , promotions , and setbacks .
During this crisis , we decided to “ double bubble , ” or quarantine together .
Between us , there are two elementary school students , a health care worker , a small-business owner , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher , and a political reporter ( me ) suddenly living at home again .
We are better off than most .
We have jobs , internet access , and plenty of food .
We are all healthy .
But that doesn ’ t mean life is easy right now .
Our finances are tighter .
Tired , bored , and anxious , we ’ ve been fighting more than usual .
The family vacation at Virginia Beach in June is canceled .
Like many states , Virginia is just beginning to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a summer of uncertainty .
What will the coming weeks and months look like ?
What activities will be allowed ?
What will actually feel safe ?
One thing is already clear : Like many families around the world , we are learning how to rely on each other in entirely new ways .
“ OK , Abs , five-minute countdown , ” says Kurt Crandall at 8:52 a.m.
He ’ s exaggerating the time until the at-home school day begins , but Abilene – who is still in her pajamas pirouetting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heads-up .
Over the next eight minutes , the girls do little to prepare .
Sonoma braids my hair .
Abilene cries because she wanted the hairbrush first .
Then Abilene remembers her new mermaid doll and proudly shows me her glittery tail .
Kurt plays the sound of a school bell from a YouTube video on his phone .
“ OK , go to your work stations.
” On his third ask , Sonoma ambles toward the dining room table , which is piled high with loose worksheets and a laptop .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ third grade classroom , the family has been eating meals together outside or standing around the kitchen counter .
Kindergarten is in the adjoining room , where Abilene plays reading games on another computer .
The girls ’ school received a grant to distribute laptops , which Kurt picked up in an eerily empty elementary hallway , winter snowflakes still decorating the ceiling .
“ Come .
And .
Run .
With .
Me .
Away .
We .
Go , ” says Abilene robotically , her index finger tracing the computer screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tacked to the opposing wall with school subjects penciled in a grid of 45-minute time slots .
Kurt , nodding to the paper , says that plan lasted for about a week .
“ Emotionally , if they aren ’ t in a good space , it doesn ’ t matter what kind of schedule you ’ ve drawn up , ” he says .
Kurt , a psychology professor at Virginia Commonwealth University , has been teaching his students virtually since VCU closed its campus in the second week of March , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a job he splits with my mom ( who is taking a semester off as a middle school art teacher ) .
Stephanie works as a nurse practitioner at VCU ’ s Massey Cancer Center .
At first , when the penciled school schedule was still in play , Kurt would try to sneak away periodically to send an email or grade an assignment .
But invariably , there would be a fight to break up , a computer to fix , or a worksheet that needed explaining .
One day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the girls interrupted him six times before he gave up .
“ It ’ s almost impossible , ” he says , shaking his head .
He just submitted his students ’ final grades and is now teaching a summer course .
Just as the girls miss learning in their classrooms , Kurt misses teaching in one .
“ Everyone keeps saying , ‘ Oh , you ’ re an educator – it must be easy to teach the kids , ’ ” says Kurt , rubbing the back of his head .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What ’ s a proper noun ?
” Sonoma yells through the house , while Abilene continues to read aloud just a few feet away .
“ You .
Too .
Can .
Run.
” Sonoma has Zoom meetings with her third grade class in which her teacher asks them to share their “ peaches and pits ” – the good and the bad .
She has a lot of pits these days .
It ’ s a pit that her class doesn ’ t get to perform the play they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pit that she doesn ’ t get to have a “ real ” math class ( math is her favorite ) .
It ’ s a pit that she doesn ’ t get to play at recess with her friends .
But one of the peaches , she adds , are the new friends she ’ s made in her neighborhood .
Before the quarantine , kids on her street would ride bikes separately after school .
But now , every night , all the kids ride bikes together – 6 feet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opens her phone and begins to cry .
Her uncle Bruce , my grandfather ’ s younger brother , passed away .
My grandfather was unable to travel from Florida to Connecticut to say goodbye because of COVID-19 , and my mom won ’ t be able to hug her cousins at a funeral .
That ’ s the hardest part , says my mom , holding her eyes in her palms .
Suddenly , we hear the sound of the Crandalls ’ car crunching our gravel driveway .
My mom teaches Abilene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ m used to turning my life off when I walk in a classroom , ” says Mom , who still has tears in her eyes as the girls run toward the house .
But this – running a one-room schoolhouse with a kindergartener , third grader , and 27-year-old all working at the same kitchen table – is totally new .
Mom takes the tutoring seriously .
But it ’ s changed her relationship with Sonoma and Abilene .
“ I ’ m no longer the fun pseudo-grandmother , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when I hear they don ’ t want to come here because I make them do schoolwork.
” When the girls get inside they immediately split up to wash their hands : Abilene to the bathroom and Sonoma to the kitchen .
Abilene sings “ Happy Birthday ” while rubbing the soap between her dimpled hands .
The girls settle into their seats at the kitchen table with their backpacks , which still jingle with the keychains they would trade with their friends on the bus .
Like at home , school at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my mom , Diana ) started out on a schedule .
But now , as with Kurt ’ s penciled schedule hanging on the wall , it ’ s mostly aspirational .
Sonoma works on long division worksheets as Abilene jumps from notecard to notecard on the ground , identifying “ sight words.
” Later , they investigate a slug on the porch and Abilene practices karate in the yard .
( “ Mom and Dad say I can start taking lessons as soon as the corona is over.
” ) They video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portland , Maine , and the girls ask when she can come home to visit .
None of us know the answer .
When it ’ s time for the girls to leave , Abilene , holding her hot-pink guitar that my parents got her for Christmas , pouts .
Stew-Stew ( my father , Stewart ) had said he ’ d try to come home early from work so the two of them could play together .
But he hasn ’ t made it back yet .
My dad , who owns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had all of his 2020 meetings canceled – and with them , all of his hotel commissions .
When the PPP ( Paycheck Protection Program ) from the Small Business Administration was announced , he conferred with his bank and did practice applications .
We were on a walk when he learned the application was live , and he handed me our dog ’ s leash and jogged home .
Days , then weeks , went by , with my dad refreshing his PPP “ dashboard ” every few minutes hoping each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the browser open on his computer .
He left the dinner table to go refresh the page .
His bank was late with their applications , and the first funding ran out .
No loan came .
He cut his salary .
He cut his employees ’ salaries .
He fired a woman he considered a friend .
I saw my dad cry for the first time since my grandfather died , 14 years ago .
On the second round of PPP funding , five weeks after he had submitted his application @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s not enough to cover the loss of business .
And he ’ ll have to pay part of it back , because he can ’ t afford to restaff at the level required to make it a grant .
“ At a time when I thought I ’ d be thinking about retirement , I never thought that I ’ d have to completely retool my business and give it a whole new direction , ” says Dad .
“ Now I ’ m reimagining everything in a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long hours to make his fall meetings virtual , through apps and livestreams .
But while meetings may be virtual for now , he doesn ’ t think they will be forever .
He compares it to 9/11 : Post-COVID won ’ t look like pre-COVID , just like security for flying became totally different after the terrorist attacks .
But we still fly .
“ People will always want to be together in person , and we ’ ll have that again , ” says Dad .
“ It ’ s going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to come back.
” Stephanie is still in her scrubs when she walks in the Crandalls ’ door , takeout dinner in hand .
“ What used to be organized chaos is now ... ” she interrupts herself to grab their puppy , Luna , before she runs out the front door .
“ What used to be organized chaos is now just ... ” she interrupts herself again , seeing that Luna peed on the floor , and walks to the kitchen to grab a rag .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes the rag back to the kitchen , where she begins to divvy up food for the girls .
Work has been so busy that Stephanie often forgets to eat lunch , but she doesn ’ t think about her own hunger until Kurt brings her a plate .
“ As a full-time working mother , life never really felt truly ‘ manageable.
’ But now , with the added responsibilities to solely educate , exercise , discipline , entertain , and nurture our children – at times it all seems impossible , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one hand and trying to eat dinner with the other .
“ I either need to give up sleep or find another eight hours in my day.
” She worries about her daughters ’ education , their socialization skills , and their emotional health .
But her job at the Cancer Center helps keep things in perspective : Her daughters are healthy and they are loved .
Still , she feels guilty .
As a health care worker , she ’ s been working long hours , and her daughters will likely have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends .
And she ’ s worried about the future logistics of everything .
Stephanie and Kurt received an email today that summer camp is canceled – something the girls had been looking forward to and the parents had been relying on .
What will they do for child care ?
Kurt is teaching a virtual summer course .
Maybe Dido can keep watching them a few days a week .
“ What if this goes on for another year ?
Life the way we are living just isn ’ t sustainable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
” In my “ old life , ” ( as Abilene calls our pre-COVID past ) I was attending three or four political rallies a day , standing shoulder to shoulder with voters in hot school gyms .
At night I ’ d check into a hotel – forgetting , almost daily , to text my mom when I was off the road and in my room .
Now I hug my mother every evening before falling asleep surrounded by old high school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when I was home in Washington , I ’ d walk through my neighborhood to a yoga class , FaceTiming the Crandalls on my way .
Now I finish a run to find Abilene and Stew-Stew playing their guitars together on our front porch .
Our family , like almost all families , has had plenty of pits the past few months .
But we ’ ve also had peaches .
My mom taught Abilene the months of the year , and I taught my dad how to properly make iced coffee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wheels for the first time , and my mom and I planted a garden together , like we used to do when I was younger .
As I play Boggle with Sonoma in the afternoon sun ( she beats me ) , Abilene lays her head in my lap , waxing on about the superiority of orange popsicles .
“ They really are the best , ” says Abilene .
“ Sometimes you have to dig for the good ones .
But they ’ re always in there.
” Editor ’ s note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

‘It’s just chaos.’ One family’s struggle to make the new normal work Collapse
Six-year-old Abilene Crandall is climbing up the walls. Literally.
Under normal circumstances, at this time on a Wednesday morning, she would be in her kindergarten classroom. Her older sister, Sonoma, who has left her dining-table-turned-desk to watch Abilene hop her way up the door frame, would be having a “morning meeting” with her third grade classmates.
And I would be traveling the country, covering the 2020 presidential election for the Monitor. But now I’m in the Crandalls’ kitchen, wondering at what point I should intervene in the wall-scaling.
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned Americans’ lives inside out and upside down. Routines of work and school have been disrupted, along with most social interaction. Families have been confined at home in what’s shaping up to be the longest, most intense stretch of togetherness in anyone’s memory.
Tasked with finding a family to profile in this “new normal,” I realized I might as well focus on my own.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
While I may not be related to the Crandalls, we consider ourselves family. Six years ago, when my sister went off to college, my mom began working for them as a nanny. Our families have been intertwined ever since, sharing holidays, wiggly teeth, promotions, and setbacks.
During this crisis, we decided to “double bubble,” or quarantine together. Between us, there are two elementary school students, a health care worker, a small-business owner, a college professor, a middle school art teacher, and a political reporter (me) suddenly living at home again.
We are better off than most. We have jobs, internet access, and plenty of food. We are all healthy.
Story Hinckley/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Abilene Crandall takes a break from reading to play in the backyard on May 13, 2020.
But that doesn’t mean life is easy right now. Our finances are tighter. Tired, bored, and anxious, we’ve been fighting more than usual. The family vacation at Virginia Beach in June is canceled.
Like many states, Virginia is just beginning to reopen. Still, we’re staring at a summer of uncertainty. What will the coming weeks and months look like? What activities will be allowed? What will actually feel safe?
One thing is already clear: Like many families around the world, we are learning how to rely on each other in entirely new ways.
Wednesday
“OK, Abs, five-minute countdown,” says Kurt Crandall at 8:52 a.m. He’s exaggerating the time until the at-home school day begins, but Abilene – who is still in her pajamas pirouetting through the kitchen – needs the extended heads-up.
Over the next eight minutes, the girls do little to prepare. Sonoma braids my hair. Abilene cries because she wanted the hairbrush first. Then Abilene remembers her new mermaid doll and proudly shows me her glittery tail.
Kurt plays the sound of a school bell from a YouTube video on his phone. “OK, go to your work stations.” On his third ask, Sonoma ambles toward the dining room table, which is piled high with loose worksheets and a laptop. Since the dining table has become a third grade classroom, the family has been eating meals together outside or standing around the kitchen counter.
Kindergarten is in the adjoining room, where Abilene plays reading games on another computer. The girls’ school received a grant to distribute laptops, which Kurt picked up in an eerily empty elementary hallway, winter snowflakes still decorating the ceiling.
“Come. And. Run. With. Me. Away. We. Go,” says Abilene robotically, her index finger tracing the computer screen.
A piece of white paper is tacked to the opposing wall with school subjects penciled in a grid of 45-minute time slots. Kurt, nodding to the paper, says that plan lasted for about a week.
Story Hinckley/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Kurt Crandall begins the day home-schooling his two daughters, Abilene (left), who is in kindergarten, and Sonoma, who is in third grade, on May 13, 2020.
“Emotionally, if they aren’t in a good space, it doesn’t matter what kind of schedule you’ve drawn up,” he says.
Kurt, a psychology professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, has been teaching his students virtually since VCU closed its campus in the second week of March, while also educating his two young daughters – a job he splits with my mom (who is taking a semester off as a middle school art teacher). Stephanie works as a nurse practitioner at VCU’s Massey Cancer Center.
At first, when the penciled school schedule was still in play, Kurt would try to sneak away periodically to send an email or grade an assignment. But invariably, there would be a fight to break up, a computer to fix, or a worksheet that needed explaining. One day, when trying to record a lecture, the girls interrupted him six times before he gave up.
“It’s almost impossible,” he says, shaking his head. He just submitted his students’ final grades and is now teaching a summer course. Just as the girls miss learning in their classrooms, Kurt misses teaching in one.
“Everyone keeps saying, ‘Oh, you’re an educator – it must be easy to teach the kids,’” says Kurt, rubbing the back of his head. “But this is totally different.”
“What’s a proper noun?” Sonoma yells through the house, while Abilene continues to read aloud just a few feet away. “You. Too. Can. Run.”
Sonoma has Zoom meetings with her third grade class in which her teacher asks them to share their “peaches and pits” – the good and the bad. She has a lot of pits these days. It’s a pit that her class doesn’t get to perform the play they’d been practicing. It’s a pit that she doesn’t get to have a “real” math class (math is her favorite). It’s a pit that she doesn’t get to play at recess with her friends.
But one of the peaches, she adds, are the new friends she’s made in her neighborhood. Before the quarantine, kids on her street would ride bikes separately after school. But now, every night, all the kids ride bikes together – 6 feet apart.
Thursday
At 9:40 a.m. my mom opens her phone and begins to cry. Her uncle Bruce, my grandfather’s younger brother, passed away. My grandfather was unable to travel from Florida to Connecticut to say goodbye because of COVID-19, and my mom won’t be able to hug her cousins at a funeral.
That’s the hardest part, says my mom, holding her eyes in her palms. Suddenly, we hear the sound of the Crandalls’ car crunching our gravel driveway. My mom teaches Abilene and Sonoma on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“I’m used to turning my life off when I walk in a classroom,” says Mom, who still has tears in her eyes as the girls run toward the house. But this – running a one-room schoolhouse with a kindergartener, third grader, and 27-year-old all working at the same kitchen table – is totally new.
Mom takes the tutoring seriously. But it’s changed her relationship with Sonoma and Abilene.
Story Hinckley/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption The writer (center) poses with her mother, Diana Hinckley, and Sonoma on May 10, 2020. Over the past two months in quarantine, our families have celebrated four birthdays and holidays such as Mother's Day, during which we spent outside enjoying spring flowers.
“I’m no longer the fun pseudo-grandmother,” she says. “I feel terrible when I hear they don’t want to come here because I make them do schoolwork.”
When the girls get inside they immediately split up to wash their hands: Abilene to the bathroom and Sonoma to the kitchen. Abilene sings “Happy Birthday” while rubbing the soap between her dimpled hands.
The girls settle into their seats at the kitchen table with their backpacks, which still jingle with the keychains they would trade with their friends on the bus. Like at home, school at Dido’s (as they call my mom, Diana) started out on a schedule. But now, as with Kurt’s penciled schedule hanging on the wall, it’s mostly aspirational.
Sonoma works on long division worksheets as Abilene jumps from notecard to notecard on the ground, identifying “sight words.” Later, they investigate a slug on the porch and Abilene practices karate in the yard. (“Mom and Dad say I can start taking lessons as soon as the corona is over.”) They video chat with my sister Isabelle, in Portland, Maine, and the girls ask when she can come home to visit. None of us know the answer.
When it’s time for the girls to leave, Abilene, holding her hot-pink guitar that my parents got her for Christmas, pouts. Stew-Stew (my father, Stewart) had said he’d try to come home early from work so the two of them could play together. But he hasn’t made it back yet.
My dad, who owns a meeting planning business for medical associations, had all of his 2020 meetings canceled – and with them, all of his hotel commissions. When the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) from the Small Business Administration was announced, he conferred with his bank and did practice applications.
We were on a walk when he learned the application was live, and he handed me our dog’s leash and jogged home. Days, then weeks, went by, with my dad refreshing his PPP “dashboard” every few minutes hoping each time to see “APPROVED.” He left the browser open on his computer. He left the dinner table to go refresh the page.
His bank was late with their applications, and the first funding ran out. No loan came. He cut his salary. He cut his employees’ salaries. He fired a woman he considered a friend. I saw my dad cry for the first time since my grandfather died, 14 years ago.
On the second round of PPP funding, five weeks after he had submitted his application, his loan was approved. Still, it’s not enough to cover the loss of business. And he’ll have to pay part of it back, because he can’t afford to restaff at the level required to make it a grant.
“At a time when I thought I’d be thinking about retirement, I never thought that I’d have to completely retool my business and give it a whole new direction,” says Dad. “Now I’m reimagining everything in a virtual world.”
He’s been working long hours to make his fall meetings virtual, through apps and livestreams. But while meetings may be virtual for now, he doesn’t think they will be forever. He compares it to 9/11: Post-COVID won’t look like pre-COVID, just like security for flying became totally different after the terrorist attacks. But we still fly.
“People will always want to be together in person, and we’ll have that again,” says Dad. “It’s going to take some time, but it’s going to come back.”
Friday
Stephanie is still in her scrubs when she walks in the Crandalls’ door, takeout dinner in hand.
“What used to be organized chaos is now ...” she interrupts herself to grab their puppy, Luna, before she runs out the front door.
“What used to be organized chaos is now just ...” she interrupts herself again, seeing that Luna peed on the floor, and walks to the kitchen to grab a rag.
“It’s now just chaos.” She takes the rag back to the kitchen, where she begins to divvy up food for the girls. Work has been so busy that Stephanie often forgets to eat lunch, but she doesn’t think about her own hunger until Kurt brings her a plate.
“As a full-time working mother, life never really felt truly ‘manageable.’ But now, with the added responsibilities to solely educate, exercise, discipline, entertain, and nurture our children – at times it all seems impossible,” says Stephanie, holding Luna with one hand and trying to eat dinner with the other. “I either need to give up sleep or find another eight hours in my day.”
Story Hinckley/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Stewart Hinckley and Abilene Crandall practice their guitars together on May 15, 2020.
She worries about her daughters’ education, their socialization skills, and their emotional health. But her job at the Cancer Center helps keep things in perspective: Her daughters are healthy and they are loved. Still, she feels guilty. As a health care worker, she’s been working long hours, and her daughters will likely have to stay socially distant longer than their friends.
And she’s worried about the future logistics of everything. Stephanie and Kurt received an email today that summer camp is canceled – something the girls had been looking forward to and the parents had been relying on.
What will they do for child care? Kurt is teaching a virtual summer course. Maybe Dido can keep watching them a few days a week.
“What if this goes on for another year? Life the way we are living just isn’t sustainable,” says Stephanie. “I need to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Saturday
In my “old life,” (as Abilene calls our pre-COVID past) I was attending three or four political rallies a day, standing shoulder to shoulder with voters in hot school gyms. At night I’d check into a hotel – forgetting, almost daily, to text my mom when I was off the road and in my room. Now I hug my mother every evening before falling asleep surrounded by old high school photographs and participation medals.
On Saturdays, when I was home in Washington, I’d walk through my neighborhood to a yoga class, FaceTiming the Crandalls on my way. Now I finish a run to find Abilene and Stew-Stew playing their guitars together on our front porch.
Our family, like almost all families, has had plenty of pits the past few months. But we’ve also had peaches. My mom taught Abilene the months of the year, and I taught my dad how to properly make iced coffee. Abilene rode her bike without training wheels for the first time, and my mom and I planted a garden together, like we used to do when I was younger.
As I play Boggle with Sonoma in the afternoon sun (she beats me), Abilene lays her head in my lap, waxing on about the superiority of orange popsicles.
“They really are the best,” says Abilene. “Sometimes you have to dig for the good ones. But they’re always in there.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-05-20--‘You don’t feel alone’: How medical workers help each other cope

“ It ’ s important for all of us to remember that people do get better .
It ’ s not all death and despair , ” she says .
“ There is still joy and gratification.
” She recounts the first meal request of a man after he moved out of the ICU .
He mentioned a craving for chicken tostadas from his favorite restaurant .
“ Your wish is our command , ” Dr. Lu told him .
The bond with colleagues – along with frequent walks with her dog – sustains Dr. Jessica Lu .
She weathers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triumphs of others .
“ This is a chance to change the culture of health care , ” says Dr. Jina Sinskey .
“ It ’ s a chance to show compassion for others and for yourself , and to recognize we ’ re in this together.
” In illuminating that hidden struggle , the outbreak , while adding to the collective strain , also presents a chance to address the mental health needs of providers and fortify their resilience to persevere in the moment and beyond .
Health care workers tend to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their mental health for fear of ostracism and the potential impact on careers .
Dr. Hala Sabry tried to stay composed as she looked down at the woman lying in the bed beside her .
The patient was a mother in her early 40s .
“ The same as me , ” Dr. Sabry thought .
An emergency medicine physician , she has learned to bridle her emotions when death draws near .
This time , as her patient slipped away , the tears fell .
Dr. Sabry grieved for the woman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were allowed in the hospital room to comfort her .
In an almost unconscious act , the doctor and her medical team gathered around her , joining gloved hands in silent prayer .
Before this year , before the onset of COVID-19 , Dr. Sabry felt prepared for the intense vagaries of her work .
She seldom considered her job a threat to her life or her family .
Now , splitting time between two hospitals outside Los Angeles , she traverses the uncharted extremes of the pandemic .
“ There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know about what we ’ re up against , ” says Dr. Sabry , who lives with her husband and their five children .
The questions extend from the medical to the familial .
When she leaves home for her next shift , she wonders , “ What if I die ?
What will my kids do ?
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
She has countered the uncertainty , in part , with a private Facebook group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support each other and share information as they confront an unrelenting fight to save lives .
An offshoot of the Physician Moms Group , an online community Dr. Sabry founded in 2014 for women juggling medical careers and family duties , the COVID-19 subgroup has attracted more than 37,000 members around the world .
She gains strength from the solidarity as much as the exchange of details on treatments , scientific articles , and initial studies .
“ We run toward patients with the disease , and when you see other people doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Dr. Sabry says .
“ The sense of community reminds us continually about our purpose .
You don ’ t feel alone.
” The demands of responding to the crisis consumed Dr. Lorna Breen , an emergency room physician in New York who treated coronavirus patients and contracted the illness .
Her suicide last month brought into focus the mental and emotional toll of the pandemic on doctors , nurses , and other practitioners amid the rising number of deaths , shortages of protective equipment , and lack of proven remedies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care workers to launch social media efforts to reassure and inform their own and magnified the importance of peer support programs that can alleviate their internal burdens .
In illuminating that hidden struggle , wellness experts explain , the outbreak presents a chance to address the mental health needs of providers – needs neglected long before COVID-19 – and fortify their resilience to persevere in the moment and beyond .
“ This is an opening to try new things , ” says Dr. Anne Browning , who helps manage the peer support program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care network in Seattle .
“ It ’ s an opening to ask , ‘ How can we support our people in managing this hardship and not have them go back to just white-knuckling it ?
’ ” Health care workers tend to adhere to a code of silence about their mental health for fear of ostracism by colleagues and the potential impact on their medical licensure and careers .
Research has found that an aversion to self-care contributes to high levels of burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder among doctors and nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national averages .
Studies in Canada , China , and other countries show escalating rates of anxiety and depression among front-line responders treating coronavirus patients .
In the United States , where almost 9,300 providers were diagnosed with COVID-19 through mid-April , health care networks have turned to various strategies to aid them , including meditation and sleep apps , crisis lines , and online counseling .
Some hospitals have set up “ recharge rooms ” with soothing lights and music .
The American Medical Association lists peer support among the resources and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quirk of timing , UW Medicine established its program in January , only days before the country ’ s first coronavirus case surfaced in a Seattle suburb .
The peer model emphasizes informal , confidential conversations to reduce the reticence of caregivers and the pervasive stigma against seeking help .
Providers who volunteer as peer specialists receive training to recognize signs of stress , emotional fatigue , and burnout .
They learn to point colleagues toward methods for coping that range from exercise , cooking , and gardening to self-help books and clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decide if they want to talk and also to be more supportive of one another , ” Dr. Browning says .
“ It creates openness.
” Most health care systems have yet to embrace peer support .
She expects that to change as medical workers contend with a deepening sense of helplessness .
“ This unprecedented event has shown folks that they have to pay attention to well-being in a way they haven ’ t previously , ” she says .
“ A different approach is way overdue.
” The safety concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital erase the line between work and home , compounding their distress .
Many worry about exposing family members to illness or live apart from them to avoid the risk .
Talking with colleagues can act as a release valve for practitioners and recalibrate their emotional balance .
“ When people experience hard events and don ’ t get enough support , it leads to burnout , ” says Dr. Kiran Gupta , medical director of the peer support program at University of California , San Francisco Health .
“ That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The hospital system formed its program three years ago and has shifted individual and group sessions to Zoom during the pandemic .
Volunteers from the network ’ s pool of behavioral health clinicians have joined the effort as demand rises for peer services .
The program ’ s webinar series on mental health has proven useful for Dr. Rima Bouajram , a critical care pharmacist .
As hospitals prohibit families from visiting loved ones dying from the virus , providers fill the void , comforting patients in their last moments .
Dr. Bouajram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made her more inclined to ask co-workers about their mood , to take time to listen to their frustrations and console them in their despair .
“ We don ’ t usually talk about our feelings in the intensive care unit , ” she says .
“ But we need to be there for each other .
Everybody is affected.
” The people behind the masks The Instagram page Frontline COVID-19 shares the stories of practitioners from inside the pandemic .
Drs .
Jessica Lu and Sandra Truong , colleagues at UW @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providers across the country and enlighten the public about their daily reality .
A recent post from an ICU nurse in Atlanta captured her mix of emotions after a 12-hour shift .
“ I do have a sense of pride knowing that I am actually able to make a positive impact in someone ’ s life in a time of crisis – that ’ s a huge reason why I became a nurse , ” Gabi Naumann wrote .
“ But also I am tired , and sad , and angry , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The anecdotes reveal the people behind the masks and the invisible weight they carry .
Dr. Lu recalls losing one of her patients , a nursing home resident she saw for regular checkups and who remained in good health until she contracted the coronavirus .
“ She was such a bright light in my patient experience .
I think of her blue sweater , her pink nail polish , ” says Dr. Lu , a second-year family medicine resident .
She received the news of the woman ’ s death in a phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be by her side , not seeing her again – that was really difficult in a different way.
” Behavioral health researchers warn that the emotional fallout from the outbreak ’ s first wave could reverberate for months and even years for front-line responders .
The potential fallout concerns Dr. Wendy Dean , a psychiatrist and co-founder of the nonprofit group Moral Injury of Healthcare , who advocates for protecting providers .
Staving off burnout among them will require hospital networks to devote greater resources to preserving their mental and physical health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment .
“ Health care organizations need to listen to their workers , ” Dr. Dean says .
“ They will need a chance to process what they ’ ve been through , to get right with what they ’ ve seen and had to do .
You can ’ t heal the health care system without healing them.
” The pandemic has laid bare that system ’ s numerous deficiencies .
At the same time , the ordeal has strengthened providers ’ camaraderie , seeding hope among them that a spirit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This is a chance to change the culture of health care , ” says Dr. Jina Sinskey , a UCSF Health anesthesiologist and trained peer supporter .
“ It ’ s a chance to show compassion for others and for yourself , and to recognize we ’ re in this together.
” The bond with colleagues – along with frequent walks with her dog – sustains Dr. Lu as the outbreak stretches from weeks to months .
She weathers the loss of patients by cherishing the triumphs of others .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man after he moved out of the ICU while recovering from the coronavirus .
He mentioned a craving for chicken tostadas from his favorite restaurant .
“ Your wish is our command , ” Dr. Lu told him .
She laughs at the memory .
“ It ’ s important for all of us to remember that people do get better .
It ’ s not all death and despair , ” she says .
“ There is still joy and gratification.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No paywall .

“It’s important for all of us to remember that people do get better. It’s not all death and despair,” she says. “There is still joy and gratification.”
She recounts the first meal request of a man after he moved out of the ICU. He mentioned a craving for chicken tostadas from his favorite restaurant. “Your wish is our command,” Dr. Lu told him.
The bond with colleagues – along with frequent walks with her dog – sustains Dr. Jessica Lu. She weathers the loss of patients by cherishing the triumphs of others.
“This is a chance to change the culture of health care,” says Dr. Jina Sinskey. “It’s a chance to show compassion for others and for yourself, and to recognize we’re in this together.”
In illuminating that hidden struggle, the outbreak, while adding to the collective strain, also presents a chance to address the mental health needs of providers and fortify their resilience to persevere in the moment and beyond.
Health care workers tend to adhere to a code of silence about their mental health for fear of ostracism and the potential impact on careers.
Dr. Hala Sabry tried to stay composed as she looked down at the woman lying in the bed beside her. The patient was a mother in her early 40s. “The same as me,” Dr. Sabry thought.
An emergency medicine physician, she has learned to bridle her emotions when death draws near. This time, as her patient slipped away, the tears fell.
Dr. Sabry grieved for the woman and her loved ones, none of whom were allowed in the hospital room to comfort her. In an almost unconscious act, the doctor and her medical team gathered around her, joining gloved hands in silent prayer.
Why We Wrote This Health care providers face a rising mental and emotional toll amid the pandemic. Peer support programs can alleviate internal burdens and create a spirit of shared empathy.
Before this year, before the onset of COVID-19, Dr. Sabry felt prepared for the intense vagaries of her work. She seldom considered her job a threat to her life or her family. Now, splitting time between two hospitals outside Los Angeles, she traverses the uncharted extremes of the pandemic.
“There’s still so much we don’t know about what we’re up against,” says Dr. Sabry, who lives with her husband and their five children. The questions extend from the medical to the familial. When she leaves home for her next shift, she wonders, “What if I die? What will my kids do?”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
She has countered the uncertainty, in part, with a private Facebook group she started for health care providers to support each other and share information as they confront an unrelenting fight to save lives.
An offshoot of the Physician Moms Group, an online community Dr. Sabry founded in 2014 for women juggling medical careers and family duties, the COVID-19 subgroup has attracted more than 37,000 members around the world. She gains strength from the solidarity as much as the exchange of details on treatments, scientific articles, and initial studies.
“We run toward patients with the disease, and when you see other people doing the same, it’s invigorating,” Dr. Sabry says. “The sense of community reminds us continually about our purpose. You don’t feel alone.”
The demands of responding to the crisis consumed Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency room physician in New York who treated coronavirus patients and contracted the illness. Her suicide last month brought into focus the mental and emotional toll of the pandemic on doctors, nurses, and other practitioners amid the rising number of deaths, shortages of protective equipment, and lack of proven remedies.
The collective strain has moved health care workers to launch social media efforts to reassure and inform their own and magnified the importance of peer support programs that can alleviate their internal burdens. In illuminating that hidden struggle, wellness experts explain, the outbreak presents a chance to address the mental health needs of providers – needs neglected long before COVID-19 – and fortify their resilience to persevere in the moment and beyond.
“This is an opening to try new things,” says Dr. Anne Browning, who helps manage the peer support program for University of Washington Medicine, a health care network in Seattle. “It’s an opening to ask, ‘How can we support our people in managing this hardship and not have them go back to just white-knuckling it?’”
A different approach
Health care workers tend to adhere to a code of silence about their mental health for fear of ostracism by colleagues and the potential impact on their medical licensure and careers. Research has found that an aversion to self-care contributes to high levels of burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder among doctors and nurses, whose suicide rates run well above national averages.
Studies in Canada, China, and other countries show escalating rates of anxiety and depression among front-line responders treating coronavirus patients. In the United States, where almost 9,300 providers were diagnosed with COVID-19 through mid-April, health care networks have turned to various strategies to aid them, including meditation and sleep apps, crisis lines, and online counseling. Some hospitals have set up “recharge rooms” with soothing lights and music.
The American Medical Association lists peer support among the resources and recommendations for assisting providers. In a quirk of timing, UW Medicine established its program in January, only days before the country’s first coronavirus case surfaced in a Seattle suburb.
The peer model emphasizes informal, confidential conversations to reduce the reticence of caregivers and the pervasive stigma against seeking help. Providers who volunteer as peer specialists receive training to recognize signs of stress, emotional fatigue, and burnout. They learn to point colleagues toward methods for coping that range from exercise, cooking, and gardening to self-help books and clinical counseling.
“The program allows people to decide if they want to talk and also to be more supportive of one another,” Dr. Browning says. “It creates openness.” Most health care systems have yet to embrace peer support. She expects that to change as medical workers contend with a deepening sense of helplessness.
“This unprecedented event has shown folks that they have to pay attention to well-being in a way they haven’t previously,” she says. “A different approach is way overdue.”
The safety concerns and social restrictions that await providers outside the hospital erase the line between work and home, compounding their distress. Many worry about exposing family members to illness or live apart from them to avoid the risk.
Talking with colleagues can act as a release valve for practitioners and recalibrate their emotional balance. “When people experience hard events and don’t get enough support, it leads to burnout,” says Dr. Kiran Gupta, medical director of the peer support program at University of California, San Francisco Health. “That’s what we want to prevent.”
The hospital system formed its program three years ago and has shifted individual and group sessions to Zoom during the pandemic. Volunteers from the network’s pool of behavioral health clinicians have joined the effort as demand rises for peer services.
The program’s webinar series on mental health has proven useful for Dr. Rima Bouajram, a critical care pharmacist. As hospitals prohibit families from visiting loved ones dying from the virus, providers fill the void, comforting patients in their last moments. Dr. Bouajram’s training as a peer supporter has made her more inclined to ask co-workers about their mood, to take time to listen to their frustrations and console them in their despair.
“We don’t usually talk about our feelings in the intensive care unit,” she says. “But we need to be there for each other. Everybody is affected.”
The people behind the masks
The Instagram page Frontline COVID-19 shares the stories of practitioners from inside the pandemic. Drs. Jessica Lu and Sandra Truong, colleagues at UW Medicine, created the project to unite providers across the country and enlighten the public about their daily reality.
A recent post from an ICU nurse in Atlanta captured her mix of emotions after a 12-hour shift. “I do have a sense of pride knowing that I am actually able to make a positive impact in someone’s life in a time of crisis – that’s a huge reason why I became a nurse,” Gabi Naumann wrote. “But also I am tired, and sad, and angry, and anxious about what the future holds.”
The anecdotes reveal the people behind the masks and the invisible weight they carry. Dr. Lu recalls losing one of her patients, a nursing home resident she saw for regular checkups and who remained in good health until she contracted the coronavirus.
“She was such a bright light in my patient experience. I think of her blue sweater, her pink nail polish,” says Dr. Lu, a second-year family medicine resident. She received the news of the woman’s death in a phone alert. “Not being able to be by her side, not seeing her again – that was really difficult in a different way.”
Behavioral health researchers warn that the emotional fallout from the outbreak’s first wave could reverberate for months and even years for front-line responders. The potential fallout concerns Dr. Wendy Dean, a psychiatrist and co-founder of the nonprofit group Moral Injury of Healthcare, who advocates for protecting providers.
Staving off burnout among them will require hospital networks to devote greater resources to preserving their mental and physical health, including psychological first aid and adequate personal protective equipment.
“Health care organizations need to listen to their workers,” Dr. Dean says. “They will need a chance to process what they’ve been through, to get right with what they’ve seen and had to do. You can’t heal the health care system without healing them.”
The pandemic has laid bare that system’s numerous deficiencies. At the same time, the ordeal has strengthened providers’ camaraderie, seeding hope among them that a spirit of shared empathy will outlast the coronavirus.
“This is a chance to change the culture of health care,” says Dr. Jina Sinskey, a UCSF Health anesthesiologist and trained peer supporter. “It’s a chance to show compassion for others and for yourself, and to recognize we’re in this together.”
The bond with colleagues – along with frequent walks with her dog – sustains Dr. Lu as the outbreak stretches from weeks to months. She weathers the loss of patients by cherishing the triumphs of others.
She recounts the first meal request of a man after he moved out of the ICU while recovering from the coronavirus. He mentioned a craving for chicken tostadas from his favorite restaurant. “Your wish is our command,” Dr. Lu told him. She laughs at the memory.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“It’s important for all of us to remember that people do get better. It’s not all death and despair,” she says. “There is still joy and gratification.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-05-20--A new challenge for Michigan residents: dam failure and flooding

Rapidly rising water overtook dams and forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people in central Michigan , where flooding struck communities along rain-swollen waterways and the governor said one downtown could be `` under approximately 9 feet of water '' by Wednesday .
For the second time in less than 24 hours , families living along the Tittabawassee River and connected lakes in Midland County were ordered Tuesday evening to leave home .
By Wednesday morning , water that was several feet high covered some streets near the river in downtown Midland , including riverside parkland , and reaching a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose Wednesday morning to 34.4 feet in Midland , topping a previous record reading of 33.9 feet set during flooding in 1986 , the National Weather Service said .
Its flood stage is 24 feet , and it was expected to crest by day 's end at about 38 feet .
The Weather Service urged anyone near the river to seek higher ground following `` castastrophic dam failures '' at the Edenville Dam , about 140 miles north of Detroit , and the Sanford Dam , about seven miles downriver .
The evacuations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Further down the Tittabawassee River , communities in Saginaw County were on alert for flooding , with a flash flood watch in effect Wednesday .
“ It 's going to continue downriver , ” Sara Pampreen , a weather service meteorologist , said Wednesday morning .
“ Just exactly how much , that ’ s the question.
” Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , said downtown Midland , a city of 42,000 about 8 miles downstream from the Sanford Dam , faced an especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's main plant sits on the city 's riverbank .
`` In the next 12 to 15 hours , downtown Midland could be under approximately 9 feet of water , '' the governor said during a late Tuesday briefing .
`` We are anticipating an historic high water level . ''
Steve Carlson said he and his wife , Patty , fled their Midland home on Tuesday around 8:30 p.m. of their own accord after an evacuation order was issued for large swath of the city and they noticed neighborhood creeks were spilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` They had risen a lot and the worst was yet to come , '' he said Wednesday morning .
One couple who lives in their neighborhood decided to stay put , but Mr. Carlson said everyone else evacuated themselves from the area .
They spent the night in a hotel .
He said they 've been wearing face masks in the hotel to protect themselves from the coronavirus .
`` The hotel was very happy to see people coming in .
There were refugees coming in , '' he said with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of emergency for Midland County and urged residents threatened by the flooding to find a place to stay with friends or relatives or to seek out one of several shelters that opened across the county .
She encouraged people to do their best to take precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus , such as wearing a face covering and observing social distancing `` to the best of your ability . ''
`` This is unlike anything we 've seen in Midland County , '' she said .
`` If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who lives in another part of the state , go there now . ''
Emergency responders went door-to-door early Tuesday morning warning residents living near the Edenville Dam of the rising water .
Some residents were able to return home , only to be told to leave again following the dam 's breach several hours later .
The evacuations include the towns of Edenville , Sanford , and parts of Midland , according to Selina Tisdale , spokeswoman for Midland County .
`` We were back at home and starting to feel comfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Catherine Sias , who lives about 1 mile from the Edenville Dam and first left home early Tuesday morning .
`` All of a sudden we heard the fire truck sirens going north toward the dam . ''
Ms. Sias said emergency alerts then began coming on her cellphone and people started calling to make sure she was safe .
`` While packing , there were tons of police and fire trucks going up and down the roads , '' she added .
`` As far as I know , all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chemical has activated its emergency operations center and will be adjusting operations as a result of current flood stage conditions , spokeswoman Rachelle Schikorra said in an email .
In 2018 , the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revoked the license of the company that operated the Edenville Dam due to non-compliance issues that included spillway capacity and the inability to pass the most severe flood reasonably possible in the area .
The Edenville Dam , which was built in 1924 , was rated in unsatisfactory condition in 2018 by the state .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1925 , received a fair condition rating .
Both dams are in the process of being sold .
There were 19 high hazard dams in unsatisfactory or poor condition in Michigan in 2018 , ranking 20th among the 45 states and Puerto Rico for which The Associated Press obtained condition assessments .
Flood warnings in Michigan were issued following widespread rainfall of 4 to 7 inches since Sunday , according to the National Weather Service .
Heavy runoff pushed rivers higher .
This story was reported by Midland Daily News and distributed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Rapidly rising water overtook dams and forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people in central Michigan, where flooding struck communities along rain-swollen waterways and the governor said one downtown could be "under approximately 9 feet of water" by Wednesday.
For the second time in less than 24 hours, families living along the Tittabawassee River and connected lakes in Midland County were ordered Tuesday evening to leave home. By Wednesday morning, water that was several feet high covered some streets near the river in downtown Midland, including riverside parkland, and reaching a hotel and parking lots.
The river rose Wednesday morning to 34.4 feet in Midland, topping a previous record reading of 33.9 feet set during flooding in 1986, the National Weather Service said. Its flood stage is 24 feet, and it was expected to crest by day's end at about 38 feet.
The Weather Service urged anyone near the river to seek higher ground following "castastrophic dam failures" at the Edenville Dam, about 140 miles north of Detroit, and the Sanford Dam, about seven miles downriver. The evacuations come as Michigan remains under a stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Further down the Tittabawassee River, communities in Saginaw County were on alert for flooding, with a flash flood watch in effect Wednesday.
“It's going to continue downriver,” Sara Pampreen, a weather service meteorologist, said Wednesday morning. “Just exactly how much, that’s the question.”
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, said downtown Midland, a city of 42,000 about 8 miles downstream from the Sanford Dam, faced an especially serious flooding threat. Dow Chemical Co.'s main plant sits on the city's riverbank.
"In the next 12 to 15 hours, downtown Midland could be under approximately 9 feet of water," the governor said during a late Tuesday briefing. "We are anticipating an historic high water level."
Steve Carlson said he and his wife, Patty, fled their Midland home on Tuesday around 8:30 p.m. of their own accord after an evacuation order was issued for large swath of the city and they noticed neighborhood creeks were spilling over local roads, threatening some homes.
"They had risen a lot and the worst was yet to come," he said Wednesday morning.
One couple who lives in their neighborhood decided to stay put, but Mr. Carlson said everyone else evacuated themselves from the area.
They spent the night in a hotel. He said they've been wearing face masks in the hotel to protect themselves from the coronavirus.
"The hotel was very happy to see people coming in. There were refugees coming in," he said with a laugh.
Ms. Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Midland County and urged residents threatened by the flooding to find a place to stay with friends or relatives or to seek out one of several shelters that opened across the county. She encouraged people to do their best to take precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, such as wearing a face covering and observing social distancing "to the best of your ability."
"This is unlike anything we've seen in Midland County," she said. "If you have a family member or loved one who lives in another part of the state, go there now."
Emergency responders went door-to-door early Tuesday morning warning residents living near the Edenville Dam of the rising water.
Some residents were able to return home, only to be told to leave again following the dam's breach several hours later. The evacuations include the towns of Edenville, Sanford, and parts of Midland, according to Selina Tisdale, spokeswoman for Midland County.
"We were back at home and starting to feel comfortable that things were calming down," said Catherine Sias, who lives about 1 mile from the Edenville Dam and first left home early Tuesday morning. "All of a sudden we heard the fire truck sirens going north toward the dam."
Ms. Sias said emergency alerts then began coming on her cellphone and people started calling to make sure she was safe.
"While packing, there were tons of police and fire trucks going up and down the roads," she added. "As far as I know, all of our neighbors got out."
Dow Chemical has activated its emergency operations center and will be adjusting operations as a result of current flood stage conditions, spokeswoman Rachelle Schikorra said in an email.
In 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revoked the license of the company that operated the Edenville Dam due to non-compliance issues that included spillway capacity and the inability to pass the most severe flood reasonably possible in the area.
The Edenville Dam, which was built in 1924, was rated in unsatisfactory condition in 2018 by the state. The Sanford Dam, which was built in 1925, received a fair condition rating.
Both dams are in the process of being sold.
There were 19 high hazard dams in unsatisfactory or poor condition in Michigan in 2018, ranking 20th among the 45 states and Puerto Rico for which The Associated Press obtained condition assessments.
Flood warnings in Michigan were issued following widespread rainfall of 4 to 7 inches since Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy runoff pushed rivers higher.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by Midland Daily News and distributed by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-25--SpaceX and NASA unite to return Americans to space

For the first time in nearly a decade , U.S. astronauts are about to blast into orbit aboard an American rocket from American soil .
And for the first time in the history of human spaceflight , a private company is running the show .
Elon Musk 's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station .
The curtain rises on Wednesday with the scheduled liftoff of SpaceX 's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule with two NASA astronauts , a test flight years in the making .
The drama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flew to the moon and the last space shuttle soared from Kennedy Space Center .
While Florida 's Space Coast has seen plenty of launches since the shuttle 's farewell tour in 2011 – even at the height of the coronavirus pandemic – they were for satellites , robotic explorers , and space station supplies .
The only route to orbit for astronauts was on Russian rockets .
NASA 's newest test pilots , Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken , are launching from home turf with SpaceX presiding over the countdown .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spaceflight in our own backyard , '' Mr. Behnken said .
`` That 's the thing that 's most exciting for me . ''
The cosmic-size shift to private companies allows NASA to zero in on deep space travel .
The space agency is busting to return astronauts to the moon by 2024 under orders from the White House , a deadline looking increasingly unlikely even as three newly chosen commercial teams rush to develop lunar landers .
Mars also beckons .
`` We 're building momentum toward a much more exciting future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of George Washington University 's Space Policy Institute and a professor emeritus .
The Russian launch site in Kazakhstan is out of the way and out of sight .
Launching crews again from Florida is sure to fire up the public , Mr. Logsdon noted .
Adding to the appeal is the flash generated by Elon Musk , SpaceX 's chief executive , designer , and founder who shot his red Tesla Roadster into outer space two years ago during the first flight of a supersized Falcon Heavy rocket .
In a touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs the electric car company – Mr. Hurley and Mr. Behnken will ride to the launch pad in a gull-winged Tesla Model X , white with black trim just like the astronauts ' spacesuits and the rocket itself .
`` On more than one occasion he has looked both Bob and I right in the eye and said , 'Hey , if there 's anything you guys are not comfortable with or that you 're seeing , please tell me and we 'll fix it . '
'' Mr. Hurley said .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA is urging spectators to stay away because of the pandemic .
But beaches near Kennedy are now open , and the local sheriff is welcoming visitors even though inside the space center , the number of guests will be severely limited .
Among the exceptions : both astronaut wives – who have flown in space themselves – and their young sons .
Vice President Mike Pence and Dan Quayle , chairman of the National Space Council , are also going , and possibly President Donald Trump .
`` It 's going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next week to see you two go aloft from the Kennedy Space Center , '' Mr. Pence told the astronauts Tuesday .
It will be just the fifth time NASA astronauts strap into a spanking new U.S. space system for liftoff – following Mercury , Gemini , Apollo , and shuttle .
NASA owned and operated all those spacecraft , built by contractors to NASA 's precise specifications .
The commercial crew program , by contrast , calls for private businesses to handle and own it all , with input and oversight by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humans into space , – Russia , the U.S. , and China in that order – making SpaceX 's attempt all the more impressive .
`` My heart is sitting right here , '' SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said , pointing to her throat at a news conference earlier this month , `` and I think it 's going to stay there until we get Bob and Doug safely back from the International Space Station . ''
Mr. Hurley , a retired Marine , and Mr. Behnken , an Air Force colonel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the orbiting lab , currently down to a three-man , half-size crew .
They 'll lend a hand with experiments and possibly spacewalks , before ending their mission with an Atlantic splashdown , a scene not seen for a half-century .
As liftoff looms , the two are hesitant to consider their place in space history .
`` It seems premature until we 've pulled it off , '' Mr. Behnken said .
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said the U.S. needs its own access to the space station in order to take full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – the sooner , the better , pandemic or no .
When shuttle Atlantis soared for the final time on July 8 , 2011 , with Mr. Hurley as the pilot under commander Chris Ferguson , NASA envisioned a gap of three to five years .
Mr. Ferguson now works for Boeing , the other company hired by NASA in 2014 to transport crews .
Plagued with software problems , Boeing 's Starliner capsule is still a year from launching with Mr. Ferguson and two NASA astronauts .
While disappointed Boeing is trailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Hurley and Mr. Behnken from the sidelines .
The SpaceX duo will lay claim to a small U.S. flag that flew on NASA 's first and last shuttle flights , and was left on the station by Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Hurley for the first commercial crew to arrive .
`` Regardless of who might get there first , it 's a win for America , '' Mr. Ferguson said .
NASA 's commercial crew effort builds on industry 's space station shipments , now in the eighth year .
SpaceX led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capsules .
Mr. Musk 's California-based company was also first out the gate with its souped-up , tricked-out Dragon crew capsule .
Crew Dragon made its debut early last year , launching successfully to the space station with a test dummy named Ripley after the `` Alien '' films ' hardcore heroine .
But the next month , the capsule exploded on the engine test stand at Cape Canaveral , a monumental setback .
Boeing 's Starliner capsule made its premiere last December with Rosie the mannequin , but ended up in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demo this fall , on its own dime , before putting Mr. Ferguson and the others on board .
Wayne Hale , a retired space shuttle flight director and program manager who serves on the NASA Advisory Council , views SpaceX 's upcoming astronaut flight as an experiment with lessons carrying over to Artemis , NASA 's new-generation , moon-landing effort .
Mr. Hale and others contend SpaceX and Boeing could be flying astronauts by now if Congress had provided more funding early on .
The contracts with NASA are worth billions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ per-seat cost for SpaceX at $ 55 million , while the price of a Russian Soyuz seat has averaged $ 80 million in recent years .
Boeing 's Starliner will top that : an estimated $ 90 million a pop .
An earlier NASA test pilot , Robert Crippen , wishes at least one space shuttle had kept flying until a replacement was ready .
The longest previous hiatus between astronaut launches stretched six years – from Apollo-Soyuz in 1975 to the shuttle 's debut in 1981 with Mr. Crippen and John Young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's replacement was more futuristic-looking and landed on a runway .
The capsule has the familiar cone shape , but inside touchscreens replace the customary , countless switches .
The walls are gleaming white , not dull gray .
There 's even a curtained-off toilet .
It has built-in escape engines designed to fling the capsule off the rocket in an emergency , from the time Mr. Hurley and Mr. Behnken strap in until they reach orbit .
`` This crew will have a good escape system , '' Mr. Crippen said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seats , but they would n't have done much for us on liftoff , '' sending them straight through the rockets ' trail of fire .
A capsule is generally simpler and thus safer than a winged spacecraft like the shuttle , Mr. Hurley and Mr. Behnken noted .
In terms of launch power , the relatively small Falcon 9 has far less than the space shuttle did , another layer of safety .
But it 's still just the second flight of the crew capsule , and `` the statistics will tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight or 20th flight of the vehicle , '' said Mr. Hurley , a former fighter pilot .
At the suggestion of its technicians , SpaceX added photos of Mr. Hurley and Mr. Behnken to every work order as a constant reminder that lives – not just freight – are at stake .
`` I do n't think I need to remind my employees how important this is , '' Ms. Shotwell , the company president , said .
`` They remind themselves . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

For the first time in nearly a decade, U.S. astronauts are about to blast into orbit aboard an American rocket from American soil. And for the first time in the history of human spaceflight, a private company is running the show.
Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station.
The curtain rises on Wednesday with the scheduled liftoff of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule with two NASA astronauts, a test flight years in the making.
The drama unfolds from the exact spot where men flew to the moon and the last space shuttle soared from Kennedy Space Center.
While Florida's Space Coast has seen plenty of launches since the shuttle's farewell tour in 2011 – even at the height of the coronavirus pandemic – they were for satellites, robotic explorers, and space station supplies. The only route to orbit for astronauts was on Russian rockets.
NASA's newest test pilots, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, are launching from home turf with SpaceX presiding over the countdown.
"Getting a chance again to see human spaceflight in our own backyard," Mr. Behnken said. "That's the thing that's most exciting for me."
The cosmic-size shift to private companies allows NASA to zero in on deep space travel. The space agency is busting to return astronauts to the moon by 2024 under orders from the White House, a deadline looking increasingly unlikely even as three newly chosen commercial teams rush to develop lunar landers. Mars also beckons.
"We're building momentum toward a much more exciting future," said John Logsdon, founder of George Washington University's Space Policy Institute and a professor emeritus.
The Russian launch site in Kazakhstan is out of the way and out of sight. Launching crews again from Florida is sure to fire up the public, Mr. Logsdon noted.
Adding to the appeal is the flash generated by Elon Musk, SpaceX's chief executive, designer, and founder who shot his red Tesla Roadster into outer space two years ago during the first flight of a supersized Falcon Heavy rocket.
In a touch of Mr. Musk showmanship – he also runs the electric car company – Mr. Hurley and Mr. Behnken will ride to the launch pad in a gull-winged Tesla Model X, white with black trim just like the astronauts' spacesuits and the rocket itself.
The Dragon riders appreciate Mr. Musk's hands-on approach.
"On more than one occasion he has looked both Bob and I right in the eye and said, 'Hey, if there's anything you guys are not comfortable with or that you're seeing, please tell me and we'll fix it.'" Mr. Hurley said.
While trumpeting the return of astronaut launches, NASA is urging spectators to stay away because of the pandemic. But beaches near Kennedy are now open, and the local sheriff is welcoming visitors even though inside the space center, the number of guests will be severely limited. Among the exceptions: both astronaut wives – who have flown in space themselves – and their young sons.
Vice President Mike Pence and Dan Quayle, chairman of the National Space Council, are also going, and possibly President Donald Trump.
"It's going to be a great inspiration to the country next week to see you two go aloft from the Kennedy Space Center," Mr. Pence told the astronauts Tuesday.
It will be just the fifth time NASA astronauts strap into a spanking new U.S. space system for liftoff – following Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and shuttle. NASA owned and operated all those spacecraft, built by contractors to NASA's precise specifications. The commercial crew program, by contrast, calls for private businesses to handle and own it all, with input and oversight by NASA.
Only three countries have launched humans into space, – Russia, the U.S., and China in that order – making SpaceX's attempt all the more impressive.
"My heart is sitting right here," SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said, pointing to her throat at a news conference earlier this month, "and I think it's going to stay there until we get Bob and Doug safely back from the International Space Station."
Mr. Hurley, a retired Marine, and Mr. Behnken, an Air Force colonel, will spend one to four months aboard the orbiting lab, currently down to a three-man, half-size crew. They'll lend a hand with experiments and possibly spacewalks, before ending their mission with an Atlantic splashdown, a scene not seen for a half-century.
As liftoff looms, the two are hesitant to consider their place in space history. "It seems premature until we've pulled it off," Mr. Behnken said.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said the U.S. needs its own access to the space station in order to take full advantage of the $100 billion lab – the sooner, the better, pandemic or no.
When shuttle Atlantis soared for the final time on July 8, 2011, with Mr. Hurley as the pilot under commander Chris Ferguson, NASA envisioned a gap of three to five years.
Mr. Ferguson now works for Boeing, the other company hired by NASA in 2014 to transport crews. Plagued with software problems, Boeing's Starliner capsule is still a year from launching with Mr. Ferguson and two NASA astronauts.
While disappointed Boeing is trailing, Mr. Ferguson said he'll cheer Mr. Hurley and Mr. Behnken from the sidelines. The SpaceX duo will lay claim to a small U.S. flag that flew on NASA's first and last shuttle flights, and was left on the station by Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Hurley for the first commercial crew to arrive.
"Regardless of who might get there first, it's a win for America," Mr. Ferguson said.
NASA's commercial crew effort builds on industry's space station shipments, now in the eighth year. SpaceX led the field with its original Dragon cargo capsules. Mr. Musk's California-based company was also first out the gate with its souped-up, tricked-out Dragon crew capsule.
Crew Dragon made its debut early last year, launching successfully to the space station with a test dummy named Ripley after the "Alien" films' hardcore heroine. But the next month, the capsule exploded on the engine test stand at Cape Canaveral, a monumental setback.
Boeing's Starliner capsule made its premiere last December with Rosie the mannequin, but ended up in the wrong orbit. Boeing will repeat the demo this fall, on its own dime, before putting Mr. Ferguson and the others on board.
Wayne Hale, a retired space shuttle flight director and program manager who serves on the NASA Advisory Council, views SpaceX's upcoming astronaut flight as an experiment with lessons carrying over to Artemis, NASA's new-generation, moon-landing effort.
Mr. Hale and others contend SpaceX and Boeing could be flying astronauts by now if Congress had provided more funding early on.
The contracts with NASA are worth billions. NASA's inspector general has estimated the per-seat cost for SpaceX at $55 million, while the price of a Russian Soyuz seat has averaged $80 million in recent years. Boeing's Starliner will top that: an estimated $90 million a pop.
An earlier NASA test pilot, Robert Crippen, wishes at least one space shuttle had kept flying until a replacement was ready. The longest previous hiatus between astronaut launches stretched six years – from Apollo-Soyuz in 1975 to the shuttle's debut in 1981 with Mr. Crippen and John Young.
Mr. Crippen also wishes the shuttle's replacement was more futuristic-looking and landed on a runway.
The capsule has the familiar cone shape, but inside touchscreens replace the customary, countless switches. The walls are gleaming white, not dull gray. There's even a curtained-off toilet.
It has built-in escape engines designed to fling the capsule off the rocket in an emergency, from the time Mr. Hurley and Mr. Behnken strap in until they reach orbit.
"This crew will have a good escape system," Mr. Crippen said. "John and I had our ejection seats, but they wouldn't have done much for us on liftoff," sending them straight through the rockets' trail of fire.
A capsule is generally simpler and thus safer than a winged spacecraft like the shuttle, Mr. Hurley and Mr. Behnken noted. In terms of launch power, the relatively small Falcon 9 has far less than the space shuttle did, another layer of safety.
But it's still just the second flight of the crew capsule, and "the statistics will tell you that's riskier than the 15th flight or 20th flight of the vehicle," said Mr. Hurley, a former fighter pilot.
At the suggestion of its technicians, SpaceX added photos of Mr. Hurley and Mr. Behnken to every work order as a constant reminder that lives – not just freight – are at stake.
"I don't think I need to remind my employees how important this is," Ms. Shotwell, the company president, said. "They remind themselves."
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-21--Sacrifice, reconciliation, hope: Readers reflect on Memorial Day

The first time I attended a military funeral I was 17 .
My classmate ’ s older brother , 28-year-old Greg Riewer , was killed in 2007 in Habbaniyah , Iraq , near Fallujah , when an improvised explosive device detonated .
The blast also injured three other Minnesota National Guard soldiers , and sent waves of grief through our small town of fewer than 1,500 people .
The funeral was held in our high school auditorium in Frazee , Minnesota , and it was standing room only .
The gym was packed with friends , family , teachers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor Greg ’ s life .
The power of collective grief was palpable as everyone , young and old , grappled with the pain of a life lost too soon .
Coming from a small town in the Midwest where many feel called to serve in the military , I hear too often of brothers , sisters , fathers , and mothers who have lost their lives serving in the United States Armed Forces .
Even now , as U.S. military leaders decide the best way to operate amid the additional threats of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sometimes invisible service of the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting their fellow Americans .
And yet the nation owes so much to that service – from the freedoms we have to the grief we share to the hope of a peaceful world .
Our lives have all been shaped by that service and sacrifice , and Memorial Day is one day on which we can intentionally set aside our political differences and unite in honoring the men and women who give their lives to military service .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories of how someone who served in the armed forces changed your life .
While Memorial Day is designated to honor military men and women who died while actively serving , we found that many readers also wanted to extend respect to family members who completed their service and died later – or to living veterans , who are also celebrated in November .
Thank you for sharing your stories and photos with us , and thank you to all who have served , lost loved ones , and have wrestled with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a collection of some of our readers ’ responses .
These stories might inspire you to spend a few moments today reflecting on the meaning of Memorial Day in your own life .
Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity .
“ My mother , Marilynn Bunting Jackson , was a woman ahead of her time .
She was an Army nurse during WWII , and at first she didn ’ t think she was a veteran , because at the time veterans were men .
My father , Kenneth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being drafted for WWII , and was a veteran of WWII , Korea , and Vietnam .
My parents are both buried in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii .
Whenever we can , we or someone we know who ’ s visiting the islands puts leis on their graves.
” – Kathryn Geier , Ishpeming , Michigan “ Belief in the inherent goodness of the country ” “ My grandmother lost her husband , Malcolm Pratt , in August 1942 , and her only son , John Pratt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandfather , was awarded the Naval Cross for his service in WWI and the USS Pratt ( DE-363 ) was christened in honor of him and my Uncle John .
I remember their service and their dedicated belief in the inherent goodness of the country they sought to defend .
My mother and father both served in the Marine Corps , my dad retiring as a colonel .
They gave us the family inheritance of doing the right thing , even though history may reveal reasons that what they did is often complicated.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Virginia “ Where the courage and dedication came from ” “ I was taught Memorial Day was a time to honor those who died in service , but also to honor those we love and who are no longer with us .
It is a time to recognize those who have touched our lives in a positive way , who selflessly shared what they had with others : family , school teachers , Sunday school teachers , coaches , neighbors .
The friends who loved their country and wanted to ensure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understood and carried forward whether there was war or not .
This is where the courage and dedication came from that made it possible for our troops to face D-Day , Anzio , Iwo Jima , Korea , Vietnam , and our more recent battles .
A quiet moment to honor those who served in those ways and dedicated their lives to arming us all with a different kind of weapon would only deepen the significance of Memorial Day.
” – Jack Porter , Minneapolis “ It is the children who suffer in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1952 , my Air Force enlisted husband , Senior Master Sergeant Steve Bence Jr. , was returning to his base when he stopped to help a child who was bleeding in a ditch .
He took her to a nearby house and learned her parents had been killed .
He left her with that family .
He concluded his letter to me telling of this event with , ‘ It is the children who suffer in the war .
Hon , if we can ’ t have children when I return , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ He returned and we had two sons .
Even though I did not tell them about the letter , each of them adopted two infants : three of the children were from Korea and one from Taiwan .
My husband remained in the Air Force on active duty until his death , fulfilling 27 years of service .
He valued the military as a deterrent force and taught our sons integrity and morality.
” – Joan Bence , Jenison , Michigan “ My husband , Ronald Wolff , was a U.S. Marine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me that when his troop ship arrived in Pusan Harbor , all the men were quickly off-loaded onto troop transport trucks and driven directly to the front lines .
On the way , trucks identical to the one he was on passed them , headed back down from the front loaded with bodies stacked like cordwood .
It was a stunning , disturbing sight .
He survived , came home to me , and lived a happy , productive life into his 80s , but his graphic telling of the above story still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was a child when my Uncle Bud served as a medic in Normandy during WWII .
Before the war , my uncle and my dad did vaudeville in Hollywood at 20th Century Fox .
I was told that because Bud was an excellent horseback rider , he was hired to work on John Wayne ’ s first film , The Big Trail , in 1930 .
He taught Wayne how to better ride his horse and directed the cowboy and Indian attacks .
His experiences before the war were a great help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him through that awful time.
” – Diana Blanchard , St. Louis “ [ We ] dedicated our lives to working for peace ” “ My dad , Ervin Edward Osgood , served in WWII in the Pacific and Europe and then in the Korean War .
He received multiple awards for saving his comrades who were under fire or had been wounded , and was later one of the first men to receive the new rank of Sergeant Major .
My mom , Winifred Osgood , was a WAVE , part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the war , my dad went back into the military , so my sister and I were raised in the south and around the world .
Being raised in the military is what actually made my sister and me work for disarmament ; we are both pacifists .
We became peace and justice advocates and have dedicated our lives to working for peace on the front lines , and have been doing so for more than 40 years.
” – Pamela Osgood , Grass Valley , California

The first time I attended a military funeral I was 17. My classmate’s older brother, 28-year-old Greg Riewer, was killed in 2007 in Habbaniyah, Iraq, near Fallujah, when an improvised explosive device detonated. The blast also injured three other Minnesota National Guard soldiers, and sent waves of grief through our small town of fewer than 1,500 people.
The funeral was held in our high school auditorium in Frazee, Minnesota, and it was standing room only. The gym was packed with friends, family, teachers, students, and local business owners to honor Greg’s life. The power of collective grief was palpable as everyone, young and old, grappled with the pain of a life lost too soon.
Coming from a small town in the Midwest where many feel called to serve in the military, I hear too often of brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers who have lost their lives serving in the United States Armed Forces. Even now, as U.S. military leaders decide the best way to operate amid the additional threats of the coronavirus pandemic, we often forget the sometimes invisible service of the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting their fellow Americans. And yet the nation owes so much to that service – from the freedoms we have to the grief we share to the hope of a peaceful world. Our lives have all been shaped by that service and sacrifice, and Memorial Day is one day on which we can intentionally set aside our political differences and unite in honoring the men and women who give their lives to military service.
Why We Wrote This Our lives have all been shaped by the service and sacrifice of members of the military. This Memorial Day, we wanted to hear from our readers: How did your loved one’s service change or inspire you? Here, we share a few of the responses.
This year, we wanted to hear your stories of how someone who served in the armed forces changed your life. While Memorial Day is designated to honor military men and women who died while actively serving, we found that many readers also wanted to extend respect to family members who completed their service and died later – or to living veterans, who are also celebrated in November. Thank you for sharing your stories and photos with us, and thank you to all who have served, lost loved ones, and have wrestled with the complexity of war and peace.
Below is a collection of some of our readers’ responses. These stories might inspire you to spend a few moments today reflecting on the meaning of Memorial Day in your own life. Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
“A woman ahead of her time.”
“My mother, Marilynn Bunting Jackson, was a woman ahead of her time. She was an Army nurse during WWII, and at first she didn’t think she was a veteran, because at the time veterans were men. My father, Kenneth Jackson, became a career Army officer after being drafted for WWII, and was a veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. My parents are both buried in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. Whenever we can, we or someone we know who’s visiting the islands puts leis on their graves.” – Kathryn Geier, Ishpeming, Michigan
Courtesy of Kate Parker View caption Hide caption Malcolm Lewis Pratt (left) with his wife Katharine West.
“Belief in the inherent goodness of the country”
“My grandmother lost her husband, Malcolm Pratt, in August 1942, and her only son, John Pratt, in January 1943. Malcolm, my grandfather, was awarded the Naval Cross for his service in WWI and the USS Pratt (DE-363) was christened in honor of him and my Uncle John. I remember their service and their dedicated belief in the inherent goodness of the country they sought to defend. My mother and father both served in the Marine Corps, my dad retiring as a colonel. They gave us the family inheritance of doing the right thing, even though history may reveal reasons that what they did is often complicated.” – Kate Parker, Elkins, West Virginia
“Where the courage and dedication came from”
“I was taught Memorial Day was a time to honor those who died in service, but also to honor those we love and who are no longer with us. It is a time to recognize those who have touched our lives in a positive way, who selflessly shared what they had with others: family, school teachers, Sunday school teachers, coaches, neighbors. The friends who loved their country and wanted to ensure that what the U.S. stood for would be understood and carried forward whether there was war or not. This is where the courage and dedication came from that made it possible for our troops to face D-Day, Anzio, Iwo Jima, Korea, Vietnam, and our more recent battles. A quiet moment to honor those who served in those ways and dedicated their lives to arming us all with a different kind of weapon would only deepen the significance of Memorial Day.” – Jack Porter, Minneapolis
Courtesy of Steve Bence View caption Hide caption Joan Bence (left) holds son Randy while Senior Master Sergeant Steve Bence Jr. (right) holds their other son, Steve, at Willow Run Air Force Station near Detroit, Michigan in 1956.
“It is the children who suffer in the war.”
“When in Korea in 1952, my Air Force enlisted husband, Senior Master Sergeant Steve Bence Jr., was returning to his base when he stopped to help a child who was bleeding in a ditch. He took her to a nearby house and learned her parents had been killed. He left her with that family. He concluded his letter to me telling of this event with, ‘It is the children who suffer in the war. Hon, if we can’t have children when I return, maybe we can adopt one of these.’ He returned and we had two sons. Even though I did not tell them about the letter, each of them adopted two infants: three of the children were from Korea and one from Taiwan. My husband remained in the Air Force on active duty until his death, fulfilling 27 years of service. He valued the military as a deterrent force and taught our sons integrity and morality.” – Joan Bence, Jenison, Michigan
“A stunning, disturbing sight.”
“My husband, Ronald Wolff, was a U.S. Marine and served in Korea. He told me that when his troop ship arrived in Pusan Harbor, all the men were quickly off-loaded onto troop transport trucks and driven directly to the front lines. On the way, trucks identical to the one he was on passed them, headed back down from the front loaded with bodies stacked like cordwood. It was a stunning, disturbing sight. He survived, came home to me, and lived a happy, productive life into his 80s, but his graphic telling of the above story still haunts me.” – Virginia Wolff
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“A medic in Normandy during WWII.”
“I was a child when my Uncle Bud served as a medic in Normandy during WWII. Before the war, my uncle and my dad did vaudeville in Hollywood at 20th Century Fox. I was told that because Bud was an excellent horseback rider, he was hired to work on John Wayne’s first film, The Big Trail, in 1930. He taught Wayne how to better ride his horse and directed the cowboy and Indian attacks. His experiences before the war were a great help in building the confidence needed to get him through that awful time.” – Diana Blanchard, St. Louis
Courtesy of Pamela Osgood View caption Hide caption Winifred Osgood (left) and Ervin Edward Osgood pose in uniform on their wedding day on December 6, 1945.
“[We] dedicated our lives to working for peace”
“My dad, Ervin Edward Osgood, served in WWII in the Pacific and Europe and then in the Korean War. He received multiple awards for saving his comrades who were under fire or had been wounded, and was later one of the first men to receive the new rank of Sergeant Major. My mom, Winifred Osgood, was a WAVE, part of the United States Naval Reserve. After the war, my dad went back into the military, so my sister and I were raised in the south and around the world. Being raised in the military is what actually made my sister and me work for disarmament; we are both pacifists. We became peace and justice advocates and have dedicated our lives to working for peace on the front lines, and have been doing so for more than 40 years.” – Pamela Osgood, Grass Valley, California


csmonitor--2020-06-20--Readers write: National service programs for youth, and more

Regarding Ryan Lenora Brown ’ s cover story “ Breaking the tape – and barriers ” in the April 20 Monitor Weekly : I finally have to write in after years of reading every Monitor from cover to cover .
This article really made my day !
The “ From the Editor ” column by Mark Sappenfield titled “ Did you hear the one about the Monitor ?
” piqued my curiosity when I read the cover story described as “ a rapture of agency and strength – the kind of story that strips away language , skin color , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we share.
” And Ms. Brown ’ s article delivered on that promise .
I laughed out loud when I read that Shukri Dahir , who is making sports available and accessible to girls and women , is a Zumba teacher – so am I !
The Monitor is my favorite publication .
Something I ’ ve read in a Monitor inevitably comes up in every conversation I have .
Thank you for the quality of this magazine and the joy it brings to my life .
Oh , how I enjoyed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Anna Mulrine Grobe in the June 8 Monitor Weekly .
Over the years , I have given thought to this concept and the advantages that would result from “ mission-oriented youth programs.
” As a retired educator , I can see how this type of program would be so beneficial on so many levels to our youth and our country ’ s future , as the article suggests .
My favorite quote included in the article is from William James , who wrote in 1906 that “ our gilded youths ” should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their choice , to get the childishness knocked out of them , and to come back into society with healthier sympathies and soberer ideas.
” I fully agree with this and I , for one , would have also benefited tremendously if I had been able to participate in a youth program after high school graduation .
Further in the article , the writer points out the high demand for “ government-sponsored volunteer jobs ” such as the Peace Corps , but notes that “ expanding such programs is expensive .
Convincing Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost of stimulus programs in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic , will likely prove difficult.
” I should hope that members of Congress would realize that increasing funding in these programs could ultimately save money , as youth learn job skills and life skills that they may not have learned otherwise .
Thank you so much for this enlightening article .
I applaud Whitney Eulich ’ s article “ In Guatemala , agonizing choices for asylum-seekers ” in the March 30 Monitor Weekly , which covered Central American asylum-seekers and the Asylum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only addresses the results of violence in Honduras , Guatemala , and El Salvador .
What about an in-depth look at the countries themselves ?
It would be interesting to see the Monitor reporting from one or all of these countries to see what is being done at the local level to alleviate issues including gang violence , extortion , and massacres .

Athletes in Somaliland
Regarding Ryan Lenora Brown’s cover story “Breaking the tape – and barriers” in the April 20 Monitor Weekly: I finally have to write in after years of reading every Monitor from cover to cover. This article really made my day!
The “From the Editor” column by Mark Sappenfield titled “Did you hear the one about the Monitor?” piqued my curiosity when I read the cover story described as “a rapture of agency and strength – the kind of story that strips away language, skin color, and religious differences to show the humanity we share.”
And Ms. Brown’s article delivered on that promise. I laughed out loud when I read that Shukri Dahir, who is making sports available and accessible to girls and women, is a Zumba teacher – so am I!
The Monitor is my favorite publication. Something I’ve read in a Monitor inevitably comes up in every conversation I have. Thank you for the quality of this magazine and the joy it brings to my life.
Bonnie Mitchell
Berkeley, California
Community service
Oh, how I enjoyed the cover story “Boosting national service” by Anna Mulrine Grobe in the June 8 Monitor Weekly. Over the years, I have given thought to this concept and the advantages that would result from “mission-oriented youth programs.”
As a retired educator, I can see how this type of program would be so beneficial on so many levels to our youth and our country’s future, as the article suggests. My favorite quote included in the article is from William James, who wrote in 1906 that “our gilded youths” should be “drafted off, according to their choice, to get the childishness knocked out of them, and to come back into society with healthier sympathies and soberer ideas.”
I fully agree with this and I, for one, would have also benefited tremendously if I had been able to participate in a youth program after high school graduation. Further in the article, the writer points out the high demand for “government-sponsored volunteer jobs” such as the Peace Corps, but notes that “expanding such programs is expensive. Convincing Congress to fund them, particularly given the cost of stimulus programs in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, will likely prove difficult.”
I should hope that members of Congress would realize that increasing funding in these programs could ultimately save money, as youth learn job skills and life skills that they may not have learned otherwise. Thank you so much for this enlightening article.
Verlee G. Terwilliger
San Diego
Search for asylum
I applaud Whitney Eulich’s article “In Guatemala, agonizing choices for asylum-seekers” in the March 30 Monitor Weekly, which covered Central American asylum-seekers and the Asylum Cooperative Agreement. However, this narrative only addresses the results of violence in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. What about an in-depth look at the countries themselves? It would be interesting to see the Monitor reporting from one or all of these countries to see what is being done at the local level to alleviate issues including gang violence, extortion, and massacres.
Basil D. Georgiadis
Richmond, Virginia