Nation pays tribute: Lowcountry honors fallen
A sign at the parking booth at Patriots Point on Sunday morning said "Never Forget."
That was the watchword around the Lowcountry, as it was across America. Hundreds in the Charleston area gathered to remember those who died on Sept. 11, 2001, or in the wars that followed.
At Patriots Point in Mount
Pleasant, more than 500 people boarded the aircraft carrier Yorktown for a ceremony that included the reading of 9,168 names, including nearly 3,000 who died on 9/11 and more than 6,000 killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since then.
In downtown Charleston, an Interfaith Gathering for Peace filled the Sottile Theatre.
Jeanne Porter Ashley:
Interfaith gathering for Peace in Charleston was beyond belief. Well done, all.
Ron Alexander: The 9-11Memorial interfaith service at the Sottille was magnificent - many different religions including Paganism & Secular Humanists. My fav. messages were from B'ahia & Unitarian Universalists. Two great drumming groups - Buddhist & African Americans (with dancers), great singers - groups and solists - Unity of Charleston & Coastal Interfaith did an awesome job of putting this all together!
Jeanne Porter Ashley: It was almost a full house, too....Charleston turned out to apply the balm called PEACE to the wound that is 9/11. Much metta!..it was beautiful and engaging from the start. My eyes were wet the entire time from the emotions -- and we were clapping and dancing at our seats with the musical acts. The theatre is amazing, too. Must have had about 1000 people in attendance. It was all about Peace, Peace, Peace! ♥
Ron Alexander Charleston Post & Courier may have some photos! Great Chief Tecumsi(?) speech read by Native Americans also plus inspiring talks by the Sikh's, Islam, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. I saw a Rabbi there, but don't remember him speaking? Interesting... facts Unitarian Universalists have one of the oldest most historic churches in Charleston and both them and Muslims have been in Charleston since the 1700s' The Unitarian speaker read from a "Charter on Compassion" which contained a plea to religions to rid all of their Holy Books of violent passages.
Jeanne Porter Ashley: The Judaism speaker was a lovely young woman -- maybe a high schooler -- who is a champion public speaker..she read a piece by Issac Bashevis Singer. Holli S. Emore , a Pagan Priestess, and, my good friend, read a marvelous piece that cele...brated America:
The New Colossus......
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Emma Lazarus, 1883
A 9/11 Ceremony was held on the Yorktown at Patriots Point
Photo Gallery
Fallen Heroes From The Lowcountry
In Summerville, about 250 gathered at Pinewood Preparatory School for a 9/11 Tribute Concert centered on the theme of "Resilience," the ability to recover from adversity. Then they went out into the school's Liberty Garden to touch a medallion forged from metal salvaged from the twisted ruins of the World Trade Center.
Alexander Appropriately & profoundly, led by an outstanding large choral group,
Ron Alexander: We ended up singing together The Peace Song (Unitys' "Let there be Peace on Earth. This group led off the ceremony with "America The Beautiful".
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our creator, united all are we. Let us walk with each other, in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment, and live each moment
in peace eternally.
Thanks Unity of Charleston - Rev. Ed Kosak and crew - especially Cookie Washington!
4
No comments:
Post a Comment