The last few days have been a blur. With internship work by day, classes by night, and homework whenever possible, I don’t spend much time sitting still. The Reagan funeral has also added to the hectic schedule.
Nonetheless the last several days have been great. On Wednesday Fred Barnes (Weekly Standard; Fox News) spoke to our class. I found out that he got his start in journalism in the fair state of South Carolina. In his lecture Mr. Barnes gave a fairly non-partisan presentation of how to get into the journalism business. When the Q&A began the discussion got a little heated as kids attacked Fox News et al. I think that a contingent of more liberal students had been waiting for a chance to give Mr. Barnes a hard time. After class I had a chance to talk with him briefly.
Wednesday I also had my first photography assignment of sorts. I accompanied a fellow intern, Toshiyuki Inaba (shortened to “Tosh”), to a Good Housekeeping awards luncheon at the Library of Congress. After a stridently feminist introduction from the GH publisher, Lynne Cheney was the special speaker. In her comments she also highlighted Ronald Reagan’s contribution to the cause of women in politics. This year’s top winner was a decorated female fighter pilot who served in Iraq. In her acceptance speech she read from the book of Isaiah, giving God the glory for her accomplishments. After the event Tosh and I ate burritos in a little restaurant near the Capitol.
While I was near the Capitol I stopped by the Washington office of the American Association of Christian Schools to see Shane McAllister, a friend from school. He showed me around the office and his apartment before I had to head out again.
For the rest of the afternoon I walked Constitution Avenue photographing people who were setting up for the Reagan processional that evening. I talked to people from all over the U.S. At least one man that I met had been camped out since 8:30am.
As I was walking the route I saw a man wearing a Navy uniform. I took several pictures of him sitting facing the road and then went up to ask him his name and hometown for a caption. The man told me his name was Wendell Hyink from South Bend, IN. I realized that this was the Dr. Hyink who used to work at the BJU hospital as an anesthesiologist. I surprised him by knowing who he was. In truth I don’t know that I would have recognized Dr. Hyink without him giving his name unless he had been with his family or wearing a bowtie.
Dr. Hyink told me that when he went back to Indiana he told his family and future employer that he would only move on the condition that when the Gipper died, he be given time off to pay tribute. He echoed the common sentiment that Reagan was the best president in his lifetime. It was a nice break on a hot, exhausting day to unexpectedly meet someone that I know.
Because everyone else in my internship office is occupied with the Reagan events and preparing to move our office to a new building I have had a little break this week. Monday I will get my press credentials and I expect that I will be a lot busier covering news around the Capitol.