Category Archives: American Tragedies

9-11 Brings Anxiety for Many of Us

Posted on September 12, 2019 by

Like all of you, 911 is really tough to reflect on each year. Those of us who worked on site at Ground Zero remember horrible pain, vulnerability, panic, anxiety, depression, and many other feelings that cause us great discomfort. It … Continue reading →

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A Chaplain Reflects on the Parkland School Shooting on the One-Year Anniversary

Posted on February 14, 2019 by

By Chaplain Bob Ossler Valentine’s Day represents romance and love for couples—or lack of—for anxious, lonely singles. However, for parents, family, and friends of the 17 victims (14 students, 3 staff) of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School shooting in 2018, … Continue reading →

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September 11 Ground Zero Heroes

Posted on September 5, 2018 by

by Chaplain Bob Ossler and Janice Hall Heck “Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They’re just braver five minutes longer.” Ronald Reagan First responders, emergency workers, firefighters, police officers, construction workers search and rescue teams, search and recovery … Continue reading →

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Never Forget: Missing Persons, September 11, 2001

Posted on September 3, 2018 by

By Bob Ossler and Janice Hall Heck In memory of those who lost their lives at Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks, and in recognition of the heroes who served there in the search and rescue, search and recovery, clean-up … Continue reading →

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Excerpt from Triumph Over Terror: “Sweeper Man”

Posted on May 30, 2018 by

Multiple award-winning, Triumph Over Terror, by Ground Zero Chaplain and Janice Hall Heck, recounts Ossler’s interactions with heartbroken victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Used by permission of Blackside Publishing. Sweeper Man’s Hopeless Task “I must lose myself in action, … Continue reading →

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Grief Can Be an Awful but Powerful Motivator

Posted on May 27, 2018 by

Buried memories of tragedy resurface for many of us each Memorial Day. I flash back to Yarnell, Arizona in 2013 when nineteen Granite Mountain Hotshot Firefighters, ranging in age from 21 to 43, were trapped and killed in a wildfire. … Continue reading →

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