Page 145 - Abilene Living

to gather all the supplies they could, not knowing if they would have access to food and water should this attack continue. Tom knowing they stood out instructed them to take off their cowboy hats and boots so as not to become targets should chaos and looting erupt.

DONATION

Later that day among all the chaos, the White House called and said, “We have all this food, enough for 1400 people, what do you want to do with it?” Tom was more than happy to donate all of the food he had prepped the day before to feed the secret service, frefghters, and police that were working around the clock to secure our country that day. Around town there were no trains running, all the bridges into Washington were blocked off 'the city was dead' fghters were circling prepared to have to shoot down that fourth plane. We now know that was the plane that crashed into Pennsylvania, but at that time, all of Washington was on high alert for that next attack. Secret service were standing out in the streets with machine guns, (not something we are accustomed to seeing here in the United States), The fag at the White House was at half staff. Tom and his crew were instructed by the secret service to stay in their hotels.

PRESIDENT BUSH

The next day Tom and his crew were called back to the White House by the secret service, they needed to clear all of their equipment from the lawn for security reasons. As they loaded the last of the supplies, Tom heard someone whistle and call out “Tommy.” It was President Bush coming out of the oval offce with three secret service men. He walked up to me, and put his hand on my shoulder, and said, “Laura and I just want you to know that we are very sorry that you couldn't cater that event.” Tom was astonished at the overwhelming kindness and compassion from the President especially under such devastating circumstances. The President knew how much it meant to Tom to cater this event. Tom replied, “Oh my gosh, Mr. President you got things a lot more important to worry about than whether or not I cater the party.” The President replied, “I want you to know we are going to do this party again because I'm not gonna let these people change the way we live.” Tom says that statement has stuck with him because the unfortunate irony is “our lives have completely changed.” They continued to talk