r 8 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, September 20, 2001 Townsend (continued from page 1) falling debris, he said. Through all the uncertainty, Townsend said he was surprised how relatively calm everyone was. He estimates about a 1,000 peo- ple were in the group he was with. He said the group stayed together and evacuated the build- ing through a back corner door. “I couldn't even see my feet,” Townsend said, as the adrenalin ~ began to pump through his body again at recalling the events of that day. “The sunlight was com- pletely cut off.” “One of the really scary things was there weren't people scream- ing,” he remembers of the horrific situation. “You could see shoes from people who were running,” the said, then paused to say he felt lucky not to see any bodies. Television reports of the terror- ist attack on New York City hit too close to home for David's par- ents, Jeff and Lois Townsend, watching in Dallas. The first call from David Townsend was to his grandmother around the time of the second plane crash. But the next phone call from their son would not come until hours later. “You say a lot of prayers,” said Jeff Townsend’, about those long hours. While David's parents were praying for his safety, he and the group he was with made their way to the South Street Seaport. “About halfway there, another cloud of smoke came from the second building,” he said. “We didn’t know if it was a war or just this one instance,” David said. Uncertain what was going © on, Townsend, his co-workers and friends kept moving. Next they made their way to the FDR ~ Bridge. When Townsend turned to look at the New York skyline, he saw + nothing where the mighty twin towers had stood minutes before. The amount of fear was beyond anything Townsend had ever seen. “Everyone would duck for cover when they heard anything,” he recalls. © “I just wanted to get back and call my parents to let them know I was okay,” he said. The original ~ group lessened in number as ' Townsend walked the city, and “I couldn’t even see my feet. The sunlight was completely cut off.” David Townsend worked near World Trade Center he and some friends walked to Greenwich Village. He was amazed at the people who were handing out food and water to the soot-covered strangers. “Women would walk up to you and hand you their cell phone and say, ‘Call your parents and tell them your okay,” ” he said. As he made his way back to his apartment on 29th and 2nd Streets, calling home was his top priority. When he finally got a phone line to’his parents he said, “Tell everyone I love them.” David Townsend has decided to stay in New York City, for now. “It's a little more therapeutic to be here with friends,” he said. He knows some of the people who made the trek across the FDR Bridge will probably never return to New York City. “A lot of people don’t know if they will ever come back to New York.” This 1995 Dallas High School graduate, who has lived in Philadelphia while attending the University of Pennsylvania and Chicago prior to New York, said he’s always kept his safety in mind. He admits living in a big “I feel safe here. . Ihave noplans on moving or ~ changing my job.” . David Townsend ‘95 Dallas graduate living in New York city. comes with a different set of risks than living in the Back Mountain. But nothing could have ever prepared him for this experience. “I feel safe here,” Townsend said Thursday after the terrorist attack. “I have no plans on mov- ing or changing my job.” When he moved to New York in May, Townsend said it was a lot different than what he remem- bered. “It’s a lot safer than what I remembered as a kid.” “I can’t say it hasn't affected me,” Townsend said with a bit of reserve in his voice. But he is de- termined not to let it ruin the life he has begun building for him- self. x As an options trader for Wolverine Trading L.P., Townsend loves his career. His priority now is to get back to work and place his focus on his future. With a twinge of guilt, Townsend hates to admit that even after the first explosion he was still thinking about trading on September 11. “I'm not going to live my life in fear. I just want to get back to my normal life,” he said. With own hands, Wycallis students make huge flag All fifth grade students at Wycallis Elementary School in Dallas Township are participating in the painting of a huge American flag that they hope to display outside. The red stripes were made by each student placing one or more red handprints across the flag. The whole school is also actively participating in a penny drive to benefit the American Red Cross disaster relief fund. The five gallon water jug was nearly half-full at the end of the first day of the collection. “These are some positive ways for the children to feel some control right now and that’s a good thing for them,” according to Kathleen McCarthy, principal at the school. Pictured from left: Christiana Gebhardt, Mrs. Catherine Tasco, fifth grade teacher, David Scherer, Erin Belles and J.P. LaNunziata. EE n J ] ji Since January, 2001, the members of Trucksville United Methodist Church have worked tirelessly to raise § funds for a 14-room addition to the education wing of our Knob Hill building at the gateway to the Back Mountain. The expansion will provide much needed space for our community services supporting children, youth, adults and the needy of the Back Mountain. We are grateful for the generosity of our contributors to date. Pledges now total $1.3 million Now we are asking you to Help Us Better Serve our Community and raise an additional $400,000 The non-denominational Trucksville Nursery School - serving children ages 2'%-5 since 1969. Enrollment stands at 140. Boy Scout Troop 155, Cub Scout Pack 155 and Girl Scout Troop 657 - serving nearly 150 Scouts annually. Back Mountain Food Pantry - Organized in 1977, it has been housed in the former Kingston Township Municipal Building. With the completion of the new educational center, the food pantry will move to the new facility and provide much improved conditions for volunteers and the 130 local families it serves. Site for V.I.S.LO.N. Homeless Program - Providing meals, recreation and overnight housing for 20-30 men each year. EDUCATION BUILDING CAMPAIGN PLEDGE CARD I/We wish to make a gift/pledge Name(s) Address I/We wish to remain anonymous City, State, Zip Amount of gift enclosed $ Year 1 $ Donor Signature Phone Year 4% Year 5 $ Amount of gift pledged $ Billing Mo.—— Year 2 $— Billing Mo.—— Year 3 $ — Billing Mo.—— Billing Mo. Billing Mo. "All contributions are tax-deductible. Make checks payable to: Trucksville United Methodist Church 40 Knob Hill Road, Trucksville. PA 18708-9683 (For more information call 696-3897) i th of | of the improvement and growth of the Trucksville United Methodist Church PLR me ol og ; A i i : ; De. i : as we continue to serve the entire community. 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