Election day horror

It was Election Day. I was working at the polls at the Lincoln-McKinley School. I thought it would be a day like any other Election Day, hoping for a good turnout and seeing our neighbors and friends.

We posted our instructions, checked our voting machines, took our oath and we were ready for our first voter. Joe Zygmond waiting patiently for 7 a.m. Joe has been our first voter for as far back as I can remember.

Not sure of the time, 8 a.m. or so, a lady voter rushed in and in a high voice said, "United States has been bombed. A plane hit one of the towers at the World Trade Center in New York." She told us what she saw on TV. She could hardly talk, it was so horrible.

We inquired if we could have a radio. The clerk and recorder gave us permission to have a radio. We were to keep it very low. One of the ladies that works with us called her husband and he brought in a radio. We were able to get the news as it was happening.

When the lady told us about the terrorist attack on the United States, the first thing that came to my mind was the day President Kennedy was assassinated. I was working at the Citizens Bank of Montana at the time (Wells Fargo now). Jerry Tucker was returning from lunch. He came in the front door and shouted, "President Kennedy has been shot." There was total silence and people started to weep.