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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says he 'immediately' leaned into his military training after the Key Bridge collapse: 'The only certainty is uncertainty'

Apr 16, 2024, 23:14 IST
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Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
  • Wes Moore swiftly leaned on his military training when he learned about the Key Bridge collapse.
  • "You check on your people, establish accountability, and follow up," he told BI of his mindset.
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In late March, Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland received a call with news that seemed unthinkable.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, one of Baltimore's vital transportation arteries, had just collapsed into the Patapsco River after being struck by a massive cargo ship.

For 47 years, the bridge stood firm as a beacon of the region's industrial roots. But after being hit, the massive steel-arched bridge splintered into pieces. And six construction workers died as a result of the collapse.

Moore, who is now navigating one of the most complicated maritime and infrastructural challenges in the country, told me that his military service prepared him for the catastrophic event.

"When I got the call, it immediately kicked you into your training," Moore said of his reaction to news of the bridge collapse. "You check on your people, establish accountability, and follow up. When we got word about everything that had happened, I got very focused and tried to figure out what needed to get done now."

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Moore has stressed that in the military, everything is about accomplishing the mission at hand, irrespective of personal differences. And he has spoken at-length about how the concept of American patriotism doesn't belong to any one political party.

When discussing the bridge collapse that triggered the temporary closure of the Port of Baltimore, Moore told me that he held onto the mindset of expecting the unknown.

It's a trait that be tested in a major way in the coming weeks and months, as the first-term Democratic governor and the state's congressional delegation work to secure federal funding to rebuild the bridge.

"I joined the Army when I was 17 years old. I had no idea when I was leading soldiers in Afghanistan that it would prepare me for this moment," he said. "One thing that training taught us is that the only certainty is uncertainty."

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