COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL
JEREMY BEALE
A TIME TO REBUILD
Navy Yard Begins to Rebuilds After Tragic Shooting, Workers Return
Within the solid brick walls of Washington D.C.’s Navy Yard, September 16, 2013 will be remembered as a day of tragedy, as former contractor turned gunman, Aaron Alexis opened fire on Building 197, killing 12 people and injuring four.
But, nearly a year and half later—February 2 marks a new beginning as 400 employees gathered alongside their family and friends in support of a newly renovated $6.4 million building—fortified in remembrance of the fallen and christened in a new hope.
“This is an important first step to getting our command back to the Navy Yard,” Executive Director of NAVSEA William Deligne said in his opening address. “Where there are still some people who can’t get past what happened here—we are still working with those folks.”
Deligne was happy with the 400 employees who attended the ceremony, but he also acknowledged those who were yet able to cross threshold of the glass doors which caused so much pain.
According to Deligne, NAVSEA 400 employees was just the start, but he anticipate 4000 employees to be back at work by the end of the year, but for those who remain in healing, accommodations for other locations will be made readily available.
Nevertheless, with the healing process being initiated, Monday morning, NAVSEA sounded the navy band and christened a champagne bottle upon the remodeled walls of building 197—now renamed the Humphreys Building.
“This is about resiliency, healing, tribute and honor,” Dan Reynolds a contractor of the Humphreys Building said.
Reynolds believed that with the new building came a fresh start.
According to Communications Director of NAVSEA Rory O’Connor Humphreys Building was completely funded by the navy.
With the $6.4 million, NAVSEA was able to reconstruct the majority of the building, spanning from the offices to the cafeteria all while keeping the original skeleton intact at the heart of the building.
Director O’Connor described the building as a building within a building.
However, where the building may have gained a fresh new look, the history still remained.
Vice Admiral of NAVSEA William Hilarides dedicated the building by cutting the ceremonial ribbon within the new cafeteria.
“Seventeen months ago, we were knocked down—but we didn’t stay down,” Vice Admiral of NAVSEA William Hilarides said in his address. “The only thing that got us through September 16, was staying together—where today is about looking forward, we will never forget the ones we lost.”
Solemnly laying at the heart of the building is a memorial for
the 12 men and women who lost their lives that day.
Peering into the room, Communications Director of NAVSEA Rory O’Connor
noticed a bouquet of sunflowers in the memorial and said, “We cannot forget
those who died that day—this room is a perfect example of what it means to
honor and remember our fallen.”
Incased in a marble foyer, a steady stream of water falls upon an illuminated-incandescent box
commiserating the individual who died that day: Michael Arnold, Martin Bodrog,
Arthur Daniels Sr., Mary Frances, Sylvia Frasier, Kathleen Nark Gaarde, John Roger Johnson,
DeLorenzo Knight, DeLorenzo Knight, Vishnu Pandit, Kenneth Bernard Proctor Sr.,
Gerald Read and Mike Ridgell.
Lying beside the names of the deceased read a quote:
“We memorialize as heroes those we lost and pledge that their lives and deeds shine forever bright. It was a day when ordinary people became extraordinary heroes and showed that courage lies in us all, even in the face of tragedy. Thousands returned to work just days later as a family. They would not let fear keep them away. They had a fleet to put to sea.
— Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.
Many of the employees ventured into the marble room, to sit on the benches to in solitude and remembrance of memories of old friends.
Where the wounds still wear deep within the hearts of those in building 197, February 2 marks a day of hope and new beginnings—a time to rebuild.
Sunflowers at the base of the memorial, left by greavers the day before the Navy Yard Ceremony.