Internship Memories

A Letter from Mary Ann Solmonson

This email letter was sent to David I. and Mary Nelson on February 10, 2009. It should have been read at the reunion, but here it is now. Mary Ann was married to Rick Halvorson, a classmate of ours who died while serving Trinity Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA.


The year was 1967. It was springtime. Rick was in his second year at the seminary, and we were waiting for his internship assignment. The day finally came, and he received the notice—Grace Lutheran Church on 16th Avenue in Washington, D.C. We looked it up on the map and found out if you keep going down 16th Ave you would be at the White House. Having grown up in a small town in South Dakota, I was a bit apprehensive about living in Washington D.C. The wonderful part was that Rick’s sister Karen, John and baby Katherine lived close by. John was a lawyer for the Justice Department spending much time in the South during the Civil Right’s Movement. We packed our bags when school was out in May and headed east. What a year awaited us.

I looked for a job at a hospital in the operating room and ended up at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Because our country was at war in Viet Nam, the people I worked with were only at Walter Reed for about six weeks before they were deployed to the war zone. By the time our year was over, I was the most experienced nurse in the operating room, except for the Director. Down the hall from the operating rooms was the Presidential Suite. I was fortunate to get a tour of it one day. It was a beautifully furnished apartment for the President and his family. (Maybe we can add “her” family someday.) Little did I know one day I would assist the Surgeon General of the Army when he took out President Eisenhower’s gall bladder and President Eisenhower would stay in that suite.

One day in the spring of 1968, the day after Martin Luther King was killed, as the cherry trees were in full bloom my boss came to me about noon and said, “I want you to go home right now. Did you drive to work, or take the bus?” I told her I had taken the bus and then asked why. She said things were not good in the city and she wanted me to go home. She offered to get me a ride, but I told her it was ok for me to take the bus. It was only about a 10-minute ride. I walked out to 16th Street and waited for the bus. When I boarded, I realized I was the only white person on the bus. I was more afraid during that 10-minute ride than I had ever been in my life. I arrived home safely. The city of Washington DC was on fire. Martin Luther King Jr. had been killed, and the people of Washington DC were angry.

I went into our little apartment in the back of the church and waited for Rick. After several hours waiting, he still wasn’t home, so I called the Pastor and learned he had sent Rick to several churches in the 14th Street riot area that morning to deliver a flyer. He was also worried when he learned Rick wasn’t back home. It was about 8 more hours before he finally arrived home safely.

He had been caught in the middle of the riot. Stores were burning on both sides of the street. People were looting the stores that were not on fire. There was a car overturned on the corner with a man standing on top of it with a gun, directing traffic. The car in front of Rick took a brick through his windshield. He swerved into the crowd, the crowd separated, and he was able to get through to another street. Rick was able to follow him. Because of the riot many of the streets had been closed, so Rick had to drive out into the suburbs to turn around and head back to our apartment. The riot continued into the weekend—Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday we had tanks in front of our church. It was announced at church—we needed someone to offer to take food to those in the riot area. Yes, you guess right, we offered. We headed down with our car full of food and were stopped by the National Guard. We were told if we crossed the line, we were on our own. They would not come in to help us. We passed their check post and entered with our gifts. We were lucky!! We were able to deliver the food and get out without being hurt. Would I do that again? At this age, probably not! I have some pictures of this time, and I hope I can share them with some of you. Lady Bird Johnson had planted flowers to make the city beautiful. I have pictures of the burned out buildings with the beautiful flowers in front of them. Did I think then I would ever see an African-American President in my lifetime? My answer would have been no!

In June of that year my parents, and brothers Bob and Jim came for a visit. They were not very comfortable in this city. At the time they were there, we had Resurrection City on the park strip. This was the same place where millions of people stood to watch the inauguration of Barack Obama. We walked around and visited with the poor camping there to peacefully demonstrate their cause. I know we were all changed that day. Did I think then, would I ever see an African-American President in my lifetime? My answer would have been no!

Rick was privileged to be a part of the Poor Peoples’ March on Washington soon after Resurrection City. The pictures I saw of that march showed the park filled with people again. Some were even wading in the reflection pool. He said it was a life-changing day for him. Did I think then, would I ever see an African-American President in my lifetime? My answer would have been no!

One morning when my family was still with us, my Dad was sitting on the back steps of the church reading the morning paper, and the secretary came to work and told him Robert Kennedy had been killed. We were not able to witness the funeral for Robert Kennedy because of our work. Did I think then, would I ever see an African-American President in my lifetime? My answer would have been no!

I was moved the day I watched Barack Obama take the oath as President of the United States. How far we have come! I am so proud of the people of our country to have elected Barack Obama as their 44th President. I am glad our Grandchildren can be a part of this day in history. Who knows what will happen by the time they are my age? I hope this continues to be a better world for all people. Thanks be to God!