THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504210511
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Like many people, Linda Ritchie watched her TV in shock as federal workers in Oklahoma City staggered away from their bomb-devastated office building. But the tragedy affected her even more because she once worked there.
``It hits so close to home,'' the Virginia Beach resident said Thursday as she waited to give blood for the blast victims.
Ritchie, an IRS agent, worked at the Alfred Murrah Federal Building five years before moving to Hampton Roads seven years ago. Her office, she said, was on the second floor, where a nursery recently was located.
``I just can't imagine why anyone would do that,'' she said. ``Why Oklahoma City?''
The bond she felt with those who still work in the building brought her to the Red Cross blood center. But she was joined by dozens of other Hampton Roads residents, who knew the victims only from news accounts.
The regional blood center received hundreds of telephone calls from potential donors after the bombing, according to Rebecca Howard, a Red Cross spokeswoman. She said the same thing happened at blood centers around the country.
Howard said the Red Cross collects 50 pints of blood on a good day. But on Thursday, about 125 people had donated a pint each.
A third of the donors, Howard estimated, were crew members of the Norfolk-based fast attack submarine Oklahoma City.
``Just one pint can save three lives,'' Howard said. ``If 50 people donate, 150 people benefit.''
Some of the Navy men brought their families.
``We were asking what could we do. The first thing that came to mind was blood,'' said Terry Geise, a petty officer aboard the sub. ``It's the right thing to do . . . it's important to take time.''
Geise's wife, Laura, waited in line with their 2-year-old daughter, Rebecca, while Geise gave blood. Donating, Laura Geise said, was the least they could do.
``It's heartbreaking,'' she said. ``I can't believe this happened in America. . . . You see the building and think, `Not this country.' ''
Jeffrey Houpt, another petty officer on the sub, said: ``The tie between Oklahoma City and the U.S.S. Oklahoma City is really close.''
Nancy Keevan of Norfolk, a cellist with the Virginia Symphony, had just finished giving blood. Sympathy, she said, brought her out.
``It's good to give of yourself,'' she said. ``I decided this morning I had to go do this and give blood.''
Jo Anna Morgan, manager of donor resource development for the Red Cross, said she hopes the agency can maintain a high level of donation for the rest of the year.
``We need for the public to carry this sentiment on into the summer,'' Morgan said. ``If this happens in Hampton Roads tomorrow, the community wants to know that blood supply is available.''
The blood collected may not go directly to victims, spokeswoman Howard said, but if asked it will replenish Oklahoma City's supplies after the crisis.
The special blood drive continues today, but the times are expanded from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the 611 W. Brambleton Ave. location.
A donation site also will be set up at Princess Anne High School at 4400 Virginia Beach Blvd. in Virginia Beach from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Donors must be 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. They should wait at least 56 days between donations.
The donation process lasts about an hour.
For more information, call (804) 446-7753. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
BILL TIERNAN/Staff
Linda Ritchie of Virginia Beach, who once worked at the destroyed
federal building, gave on Thursday.
KEYWORDS: BOMBS EXPLOSIONS TERRORISM FATALITIES
OKLAHOMA CITY RELIEF by CNB