Peter Jennings Has Lung Cancer

[Don'tLiveonMoon]

Yeah, I love Charlie. I always feel like I'm visiting with an old friend when he's on television. I think he did an especially nice job at the Vatican last week too.
Erin

 

[Ziffel]

Here's a link of some sad news that Peter Jennings may be near death. Lung cancer is just such a hard one to overcome. But let's keep him in our prayers.

http://www.nationalledger.com/scribe/article_2726142.shtml

 

[Don'tLiveonMoon]

I wrote this poem for Peter after the 9/11 attacks. He truly was an anchor in every sense of the word during that time, and he will be sadly missed. At least he leaves his legacy in capable hands. I think the world of Charlie Gibson, and Elizabeth Vargas seems very well-suited to the job as well. I wish them luck. Anyway, here's the poem.

For Peter

You’ve stood before us as a rock, the solid, firm foundation
Of the newscasts that have kept us captivated.
From your impassive lips we’ve heard the horrors that our nation
Has endured, unfolding terror calmly stated.

You drew us to you Tuesday, and we watched for twenty-four
Straight hours as the breaking news came in.
You introduced the President who said we were at war
But promised we, the strong of heart, would win.

Your stiff lip trembled slightly as the correspondents spoke
From their posts among the rubble and the ashes.
Aghast, you saw the columns crumble in a cloud of smoke
And heard the chilling chaos from the crashes.

“I called my kids,” you told us in a voice so faltering
That we wondered if you might break down in tears
For the families that were torn apart. You paused, urged us to ring
Our loved ones, and continued. But our ears

Picked up on every foible, every word you mispronounced,
Every sentence that you couldn’t quite get right.
And your face displayed your sorrow as you heard the names announced
And beheld the faces of those killed in flight.

We’ve witnessed your exhaustion. We see and sympathize.
You have given us better than your best.
But now it’s time to loose the tears that hide behind your eyes,
To mourn at home and take a well-earned rest.

We thank you for your dedication and serenity.
You’ve done as much as anyone could do.
Although you battle terrorism in security,
We think that you have been a hero, too.

Erin

 

[Ziffel]

Very nice job, Erin. Thank you for sharing that here.
Here's a few quotes of reaction about Peter's death mostly from some ABC people. I'm sure tons more will be pouring in, as well as some good pieces by columnists in the next day or two. I was glad to hear the words of the last quote (by what ABC President David Westin said Peter's wife told him):

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050808/ap_on_en_tv/jennings_quote_box_1