In and Around Morningside-Skyline
By Mary McHale 301-735-3451
This is the Morningside-Skyline column I wrote after 9/11
Here in our community are signs and reminders of the shock, the horror, the grief, the anger, the sadness, and the patriotism in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attack on our country.
Flags. At half-mast in front of the VFW. Hanging over the Beltway from the Auth Road overpass. Above the door at GI Liquors. In front of the Shell station, and on doorposts, mailboxes and lawns of homes.
The sound of jets and helicopters overhead when airports around the country were shut down.
Marine One chugging over my house bearing President Bush back to Washington on the afternoon of that terrible day.
The line of cars waiting to get into Andrews, which only gets longer as non-essential personnel return to work.
Several hundred filling the pews at St. Philip’s for a hastily-called prayer service that night.
The growing list of names of the dead from our communities: Ada Davis, of Camp Springs. Angelene Carter of Forestville. Odessa Morris of Upper Marlboro. James Daniel Debeuneure of Upper Marlboro.
Everybody’s got a story. For my family, it’s about our nephew Joe who was working at the Pentagon that morning, niece Elizabeth who was in the Pentagon Metro Station when the jetliner hit, my son John who, from the parking lot at the Eastover Shopping Center, could see the smoke at the Pentagon, grandson David talking on the phone to someone at the Pentagon when the caller said, “I have to go because apparently the building’s on fire. I’ll call you back.” He never did.
I know you’ve got stories, too.
I notice people hugging people, and being more patient, a little nicer, yielding on the road. And coming to church in greater numbers.
Dear God, help our community, our country and the world get through this time of trial. Bless the dead, the injured, the missing, the families, the rescuers, the workers, the military, our leaders including President Bush and his advisors.
Give us peace.
More about 9/11
The Morningside Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the Pentagon. Engine 271 and its crew (Lt. Tony Johnson, Lt. Syd Girven, firefighters Carl McKlveen and Jon McKlveen, and Deputy Chief Dave Fuller), were sent through the tunnel into the inner courtyard to fight the fire, which they did for eight hours, until relieved by other departments.
Ada Davis, of Camp Springs, an accountant for the Department of the Army, worked at the Pentagon. (She was supposed to retire the previous June but was asked to stay on until October.) As usual, her daughter, Zenovia, who also worked at the Pentagon, drove her to work. After the crash, she frantically began calling her mom. There was no answer.
At least 14 Pentagon victims were from South County, among them: Army budget analyst Antoinette Sherman, Forest Heights; Army accounting technician, Robert Russell, Oxon Hill; Defense Intelligence Agency, Sandra Foster, Forest Heights.
My husband, Jack McHale, was working in the yard when neighbor Henrietta Tretler phoned me, “Turn on the TV!” The first plane had hit the tower. I yelled for Jack. He came inside and watched the second plane hit the second tower. He said, “No one will ever forget my birthday.” He was born September 11, 1925.
This September 11th, he would have turned 98, but he died in 2004. And he is right. No one ever will forget his birthday.
Town of Morningside honors Matt and Virginia Rosch
Morningside hosted a ceremony Sept. 12 to dedicate the benches at the town hall
entrance to longtime Morningside Chief of Police Matthew Rosch and his wife Virginia, both of whom had spent so many years serving the Town.
The two benches are on either side of the entrance wall. Scout Troop 1237, from Clinton, took on refurbishing the entrance as an Eagle Project. They had cleaned the grounds, mowed, mulched, and planted marigolds all the way around the wall. Mayor Benn Cann made the dedication before three generations of the Rosch family and read aloud the plaque on the benches. Those marigolds were in full bloom for the dedication.
GI Liquors finally open for business!
The boards are gone! I’ll drop by there for a chat with the owner (and purchase a bottle of wine) and will let you know what he says about the shocking event.
I checked with Morningside Chief Wesley Stevenson. He told me the car that crashed into the store was a new car, stolen from the Oxon Hill area. The occupants of the car have not been identified, and no arrests have been made.
Neighbors & other good people
County Council Member Edward Burroughs hosted a Back-to-School event in partnership with Amazon, providing District 8 scholars with 150 tablets, book bags and school supplies. He also treated the students to a Chick-fil-A lunch.
Officers of St. Philip’s Sodality were sworn Sept. 9 by Pastor Ryan Pineda. They are: Prefect Ligia Rojas, Vice-Prefect Karin Yeatman, Secretary Lorraine Wright and Treasurer Peggy Nanney. Following the ceremony, the new statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, now in the vestibule, was blessed.
Changing landscape
The carousel on the National Mall will be removed in November for renovation. It’ll be shipped to Carousel & Carvings in Marion, Ohio, where the animals and structure will be repaired to their original appearance. The merry-go-round was built in 1947. It first operated in Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore, was installed on the Mall in 1967, and replaced in 1981. It will be up and running at the same location by 2026, in time for the 250th anniversary of the United States.
A home at 6604 Suitland Road has sold for $395,000.
Wordle report
As I near the 560 mark, I want to report I just did it in 2, for a total of 19 2’s. However, my 4’s continue to build. How are you doing? Or, have you quit?
Milestones
Happy Birthday to Dottie Arehringer and Peg Richardson, Sept. 24; Alice Lucke and Skyline activist Judy Hansel Waby, Sept. 27; Marshall Carson and Tim Ward, Sept. 28; former Morningside Town Clerk Janice Diggs and my brother Tom Mudd, Sept. 29; Peggy Nanney and Jessica (Williams) Proctor, Sept. 30.
Happy 60th (!) anniversary, André and Cynthia Jordan, on Sept. 28.
Email me (muddmm@gmail.com) with birthdays and anniversaries.
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Brandywine-Aquasco
By Audrey Johnson 301-922-5384
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Happy Birthday to Ayden Bell, Osayi Omoregbe, Chidinma Mbakwe, Mariama Davies, Ronald Jones, Pam Stahl, Donna Cain, Norman Noel, Alexis Proctor, Elijah P. Knight, Kirk Samuel, Beonie Pearson, Idena Thomas, Karen Taylor, Curt Falby, Annie Cokes, James Dorsett, IV, Kizzy Savoy, Umaru Davies, Rebecca Mosley, Paul Jeffrey Kerrick who are Clinton United Methodist Church members celebrating birthdays in September.
SEPTEMBER WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
Congratulations to Kevin and Jazzmyn Simmons, Franklin and Joyce Isaac, Jose and Daphne Rojas, Norville and Deserae Hughes, Ted and Rebecca Mosley, Joe and Patrice Perkins Pratt, Owen and Audrey Johnson who are Clinton United Methodist Church members celebrating Wedding Anniversaries in September.
TRUNK OR TREAT
Trunk or Treat (Jesus’ Love is so sweet October 7, 2023, from 12–3 p.m. Rain date is Saturday, October 21, 2023. Bring your treat bucket or bag. Free pony and horse rides for kids and adults. Rides 1–3 p.m. A waiver must be signed.
The Trunk or Treat event will be held at Providence Fort Washington UMC, 10610 Old Fort Road, Fort Washington, Maryland 20744. Kermit C.C. Moore, Pastor. Sponsored by the C.I.A Ministry.
NOTTINGHAM MYERS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
“On October 29, SPARK will hold their next 5th Sunday service. We would like to add the element of dance to this worship service. We are looking for any youth and children who would like to participate in a dance for the next 5th Sunday Service. This opportunity is open to girls and boys ages 4–17. Please reach out to Catherine Watkins at bams4cat@gmail.com if your child is interested in participating. Rehearsal time and date are forthcoming. Thank you for your interest.” Catherine M. Watkins.
COLLEGE D.C. TOUCHDOWN CLUB
Bowie State University linebacker Uvel Paul, Jr. has been named one of this week’s D.C. Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football player of the week Honor Roll Recipient. The Severn, Maryland native made four tackles for loss including three sacks, as the Bulldogs (1-0) defeated FCS Delaware State, 22-11 on Saturday September 2, 2023.
The D.C. Touchdown Club honors the best in Washington Metro Football, with year-round events highlighted by an annual awards dinner. Operated by the Military Bowl Foundation, the Club promotes the game of football, hosts entertaining social events and generates a significant philanthropic impact for Patriot Point.
To learn more about The Touchdown Club, visit
dctouchdownclub.com or follow Touchdown Club and like Touchdown Club on Facebook. For the most update information on Bowie State University Athletics and its thirteen varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.
2023 SENIOR VETERANS’ CELEBRATION
M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County is honoring our Prince George’s County senior veterans (age 60 & older) with a special luncheon celebration Friday, November 3, 2023, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The celebration will be held at Martin’s Crosswinds Greenbelt, 7400 Greenway Center Drive, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770.
Please note: This event is only for veterans (ages sixty & better) who reside in Prince George’s County. To accommodate as many veterans as possible, this event is only for veterans. No guests will be permitted. To register, visit pgparksdirect.com and register for Ticket Code: SPD-SPEC-GA-20231103. Please bring your printed
ticket admission to the event. Deadline for registration is Friday, October 20, 2023. If you have any questions, please call 301-446-3400; Maryland Relay 7-1-1 or email Seniors@pgparks.com.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
Come out and have breakfast with Santa Claus and his reindeer Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 11 a.m–12:30 p.m. Participants will get the chance to take a picture with Santa Claus. Food and drinks are provided as well as a scavenger hunt in the community center.
Ticket Price: Residents: $7, Non-Residents: $10, ages: 2–10. Event Category: Community Centers Youth. Event Program & Series: Holidays. Prince George’s Plaza Community Center 301-864-1611 princegeorgesplazacc@pgparks.com. Contact: Dwight Godwin Jr. 301-864-1611 dwight.godwin@pgparks.com.
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Morgan State University Alumni Association held their 2023, 16th Annual Blue and Orange Scholarship Dinner Dance and Awards program Saturday, September 9, 2023, at Greater Waldorf Jaycees.
2023 honorees were Rev. Dr. Danam Jones, Calvert County, Kesia Wheeler, Charles County, Rev. Dr. Johnsie W. Cogman, Prince George’s County, Adrianne Michele Mathis, St. Mary’s County.
Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients. Scholarship recipients were Majesty Wych, Thomas Stone High School, Sydney Baker, Thomas Stone High School, Kevin Presley, North Point High School, Camdyn Lionel Frederick Douglass High School, Sydney Cooksey, Northern High School, Moriyah Davis, Maurice J. McDonough High School, Aaron Samuel, St. Charles High School, Janihya Jones, St. Charles High School.
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