Four memorial services planned for Sept. 11
Aug. 30, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Services will be held throughout the afternoon and evening of Sept. 11 at Western Michigan University to remember the victims and families of victims of the terrorist attacks one year ago.
All services are free and open to the public. More about each of the day's events will be published on the Web in WMU News as details become available.
Service of Reflection -- Students, faculty and staff are invited to share their reflections through an open microphone "Service of Reflection" in Kanley Memorial Chapel from noon to 1 p.m.
Memorial Dedication -- The entire community is invited to the dedication of an employee-sponsored Sept. 11 memorial near Goldsworth Valley Pond beginning at 3 p.m. (See details below.)
Service of Remembrance -- WMU President Elson S. Floyd will be joined by the Voices of WMU Gospel Choir and by alumna Jill Whitaker from New York City and other speakers at a "Service of Remembrance" in Miller Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.
Ribbon of Light -- A candlelight vigil, "Ribbon of Light," will conclude the day's services with a human chain of candle bearers stretching for as much as one mile across the campus. Rallying point for the start of the vigil is the Fountain Plaza outside Miller Auditorium at 8:30 p.m.
Memorial Dedication, 3 p.m.
Goldsworth Valley
The University's Sept. 11 memorial will be dedicated by President Floyd, who will also offer his reflections on the tragic events of September 2001. Other comments will be offered by Robert Jones, mayor of Kalamazoo; Dr. Delores Walcott, WMU assistant professor and clinical psychologist; and Dr. Alan Walker, WMU vice provost for extended university programs.
The dedication ceremony will open and close with a color guard from the University's Army ROTC battalion accompanied on bagpipes by WMU employee Gloria Culp. Following the invocation, employee Jennifer Messana will sing the national anthem.
New faculty member Allison Downey will sing "On the Day (September 11, 2001)," which she wrote and recorded immediately following the tragedy as a fund-raiser for the families of victims. Downey is an assistant professor and director of theatre education.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, those attending will be invited to leave personal tokens, such as flowers, poetry, prayers, drawings or other mementos.
The memorial was paid for with $2,700 in contributions from WMU employee organizations and their members and through services and materials donated by area vendors and WMU's Landscape Services. Contributing employee organizations include the Administrative Professional Association, Police Officers Association and Professional Support Staff Organization and the WMU chapters of the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO.
The Employee Memorial Committee began planning and fund raising for a Sept. 11 memorial in October 2001. Members of the committee are Toby Boyle, Office of Information Technology; George Eskro, Career and Student Employment Services; Paul Hildenbrand, College of Education; Dori LaChance, Registrar's Office; Jennifer Messana, Career and Student Employment Services; and Stephen Podewell, Lee Honors College.
Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thomas.myers@wmich.edu