Woman Who Survived TWA Flight 840 Terrorist Bombing Prays With Families of Roseburg Massacre Victims

Jeanette Chaffee : Oct 13, 2015
Assist News Service

"Your prayers for Roseburg are making a difference." –Jeanette Chaffee

(Roseburg, OR)—[ASSIST News] On October first I was driving around Tualatin, Oregon, and I nonchalantly turned on the radio. I heard the horrific news that a gunman had gone on a shooting rampage in a writing class at Umpqua Community College, killing nine and shooting nine others. (Photo via ANS)

Immediately I remembered my own experience surviving a terrorist bombing on TWA Flight 840 back in 1986, how helpless I felt, and how grateful I was that God allowed me to live though other people died.

I felt the Lord instructed me to go to Roseburg and help in whatever way I could. I have to admit that it was with some nervousness that I headed 180 miles south.

I wanted to see what was going on when I arrived. The first thing I noticed was that signs giving gratitude to the responders and prayers appeared everywhere from McDonalds to The Lion's Club.

Folks thought of ingenious ways to raise money for the victims' families and funeral expenses. Elmer's Restaurant displayed a poster about a garage sale and bake sale at the local paint store. A nearby school band got the idea to play four concerts and raised $2,000. A local tattoo parlor brought in $2,000 in one day offering a "Roseburg Strong" tattoo. In a home garage, people painted metal yard signs the shape of Oregon with a heart cut out for Roseburg's location. $42,000 has been donated so far. (Photo via ANS)

Then I drove up the hill within sight of the campus (at first off limits except for students and staff) to check things out. I noticed national media. CNN, Fox, ABC and CBS with their enormous moving van sized satellite trucks parked near the campus gate. Reporters were professionally dressed and "miked up" ready for action at any moment.

I was relieved to see the large Billy Graham Rapid Response Team trailer in the midst of the media vans. I stopped and paid a visit to Toni and Al New who are counselors with the team. They told me how people kept stopping by all day to thank them for being there. (Photo via ANS)

At the bottom of the street leading up to the campus was a make-shift memorial along a metal fence. The sidewalk was lined with large hearts created from small stones with "Emilio" written on them. Stuffed animals, large and tiny cards, bundles of flowers, posters and an American flag were stuffed in the metal linked fence. In the middle was a huge banner with the shape of Oregon. It read: "Pray for Roseburg." A five-foot wood cross stood at one end.

That's when I saw them. The two posters. I was stunned. I will never forget them.

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