News
Events In Southeast Ohio Mark 9-11 Anniversary
By: Cheri Russo
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Since the attacks of 9-11-01, the muslim faith has been criticized by those who blamed the religon for the actions of the 9-11 terrorists.
But, on this 10th anniversary, a group at Ohio University wants to mark the occasion by celebrating religious diversity.
United Campus Ministry is hosting an interfaith peace walk in Athens beginning at 7 p.m.
“Students today have grown up with one image of religious diversity: the image of commercial jets crashing into skyscrapers,” says UCM Campus Minister Evan Young. “But in the 10 years since 9/11, there’s been another story gaining ground in this country, a story of people from different faiths serving together, and talking together about what their traditions teach them about this shared value, and understanding each other on a deeply personal level. We want this interfaith peace walk to serve as an illustration of this other story, to show people, in the flesh and on the streets of Athens, what it looks like to be better together.”
The walk starts at the Church of the Good Shepherd on University Terrace and ends at the Islamic Center on Stewart Street. The walkers will pass several other uptown churches, including First United Methodist Church, Athens First Presbyterian, First Christian Church, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Hillel at OU, St. Paul Catholic Church, Christ Lutheran Church and Christ the King University Parish.
“This is a demonstration for peace,” says Young, “embodying a more joyful and less fearful vision of our world and our future.”
The walk will end by encircling the Islamic Center in what organizers are calling "a symbolic gesture of welcome, inclusion and appreciation."
In Nelsonville, a ceremony is being held to appreciate firefighters, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement officiers and military personnel.
The 9-11 National Day of Service and Remembrance is being held at 1 p.m. on the Nelsonville Public Square.
All law enforcement and safety organizations are being invited and encouraged to bring their trucks and squad cars.
There will be an honor guard, a fireman's bell ceremony, the fire department will be placing a wreath on Public Square and MedFlight will be doing a fly-over.
"The fireman's bell ceremony is a ceremony used at the funerals of fallen fire fighters," says Nelsonville Fire Chief Dean Russell. "It's used as, in the history, when a firefighter was lost in the line of duty, his calling home would be the ringing of the bell 3 times each for three consecutive sessions and that's just his basically last call out home. "
Jerry Philcox, a New York City firefighter, will be the special guest speaker.
"We're hoping for a big turn out, to show support for all the fallen comrades, military, fire, police and EMS," says Russell. "We are hoping the square will be packed."