Quantico

Recently I had the opportunity to go on a tour of the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. It was a fascinating place! I watched them training agents in the famous Hogan's Alley, an urban street built by Hollywood set designers and learned of some of the cool stuff that they are doing to enhance their training (on a very basic unclassified level of course.) We passed by the FBI lab and peeked into the dorms. It's a nifty place. I'm grateful that there are people who are willing and trained to put their lives at risk to help the world be a safer place and go after the bad guys. I wouldn't want that job. I've shot a gun once, at a water bottle filled with sand, and although I hit the target, it wasn't something I enjoyed.

Amidst all the excitement, one thing was the most significant to me. Placed in an otherwise empty courtyard is a Granite monument commemorating September 11th. It was already destined to be something I'd like as that day has a very significant place in my life and heart. I served as a missionary in New York City, and received my assignment to go there the week after it occurred. The base was the Pentagon, the twin towers stood tall in the middle, and an outline of the state of Pennsylvania with a star where flight 93 crashed. In front of it were debris from each of the three catastrophes. It was very well done, created by the Class of 2007. Again, I'm grateful for those who work to make the world a safer place and aid in bringing understanding and resolution when it is not. It was a very enjoyable experience.

A few quotes from the front entrance:

"Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful." Samuel Johnson

"Courage is the resistance to fear, mastery of fear and not the absence of it." Mark Twain

"Prosperity asks for fidelity, adversity exacts it."
Seneca