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By JILL ESTERBROOKS, Special to the Daily Transcript
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
"As a sign contractor working under long-term contracts with the military and schools, 9/11 didn't hurt my business, and if anything, has produced a bit of a boon," said Larry Bradford, owner of Larry Bradford & Associates.
He currently has more business than he can handle producing Americans with Disabilities Act required signs with raised letters and Braille. He also has created several bronze plaques for local fire stations in memory of the firefighters who died during last year's terrorist attacks.
"The biggest impact on my business has been Miramar's conversion from a Navy to a Marine facility. All of the street names were changed and new signs had to be produced," Bradford said. "There's also been a major overhaul of the airplane hangers and bachelors quarters, which has provided tons of work for me."
"The stock market crash was much more devastating to me personally than the 9/11 attacks," he said. "All the money I've invested in my retirement account in the last few years is gone. Now that is really hard to swallow."
"As a nation, we are certainly more security aware now than ever before in our history. Not afraid, just more conscious and suspicious," Bradford said. "I've had to pass a higher level of security to get on military bases and as a result, I'd be quick to report any person or behavior I found suspect. Not just on a military base but in an airport or any public place."
Esterbrooks is a free-lance writer based in San Diego.
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