Episode 2870: "4:09 to 9:02" Boston to Oklahoma and New York Cities: Beyond The Bombings by David Hamel

This Week in America with Ric Bratton

"4:09 to 9:02" Boston To Oklahoma and New York Cities

Beyond the Bombings

by David Hamel

A newlywed couple were in the midst of unsuccessful fertility treatments at a nearby center during the time of the Oklahoma City bombing which occurred at 9:02 am on April 19, 1995. The personal heartbreak and simultaneous loss of 15 children at the day care center in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and its aftermath set a sorrowful resonating tone of great sadness, acceptance, and getting on with life for the veteran marathon runner and his wife. But the impact of the second aircraft at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 at 9:02:59 am assured that would not be so. That is, until the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, 2013. The clock at the finish line during the first explosion reminded him of his first marathon time of 4:09 in 1990. That "Hey You" moment coupled with the death of an eight-year-old boy near the finish line and a very close date of the Oklahoma City bombing reignited long dormant reactions and emotions of 1995 and earlier life events. Thus began a passionate journey to reclaim the Boston and Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon finish lines in 2014 and 2016. This is the story of an Air Force Sergeant and his wife, of teddy bears and babies that weren't to be & ... and of letting go.

David Hamel is a retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant serving over 30 years on active duty in aircraft maintenance and as Director of the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a past Alabama State Commander of the Korea Defense Veterans of America and past Eastern District Commander of AMVETS, North Carolina. He has performed 175 Prisoner of War-Missing In Action (POW-MIA) remembrance ceremonies and has served as the state POW-MIA Chairman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Departments of Alabama and North Carolina, and is a past National Aide-de-Camp. He is also an All-State and All-American Post Commander. Dave is an Eagle Scout and served in scouting as a Troop Chartered Organization Representative, Eagle Scout advisor, and as State and National Scouter for the VFW.
Completing 31 years of marathon racing, and locally known as the “Ray Road Runner,” Dave has finished 131 marathons in all 50 states, and has two Boston Marathon finishes. Nicknamed “Scrappy” in the Fort Bragg, NC ice hockey community, he is a bronze and silver medalist team winner of the annual North Carolina State Games .

Dave is a motivational speaker on fitness and self-preservation, and Air Force history and heritage. He has also earned dual Masters Degrees: Human Resources Development, and Computer Resources and Information Management.

He resides in Spring Lake, North Carolina with his wife Gloria, of 28 years.

https://pageturner.us/bookstore/409-to-902-boston-to-oklahoma-and-new-york-cities

https://linktr.ee/dghamel

http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/22924pt1.mp3