Local services scheduled to honor attack victims

By David Arkin/Managing Editor
The Huntsville Item

Two communitywide services have been set in Huntsville on Tuesday to honor victims of the deadly terrorism attacks on the East Coast last week.

A service, planned by Huntsville resident Dave Dicks, is set for 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at Kate Barr Ross Park.

A second service, headed up by a variety of local religious leaders is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum on the campus of Sam Houston State University.

The public is invited to both events.

Rev. Dave Smith, director of the Good Shepherd Mission, said a four-part service will be included in the evening service.

During the evening event, Smith said, the service will revolve around assuring people God is in control, offering a time for grieving, discussing the importance of God's leadership and looking forward to healing and purpose.

Ministers and counselors will be located at the exits, Smith said.

"During each part there will be scripture read, prayer and music," Smith said. "There will be no preaching. We will have an Islamic representative on hand. This will be inter-denominational and inter-racial."

Smith said he hoped Soul Lifters, an SHSU gospel singing group and the Huntsville Men's Chorus will perform at the event.

Smith said the service is being held to accomplish a few things.

"We want to help people that are still in a state of shock," he said. "We want to allow people to begin the healing process. The service will provide time for grieving in a healthy way."

Dicks said he feels it is important to honor those affected by the tragedy.

"I am a part-time firefighter with the city of Huntsville," he said. "I feel strongly about the situation with the bombing with the missing firefighters in New York and at the Pentagon."

Dicks said besides church services, there haven't been other events for community members to attend.

"There are many that don't attend church on a regular basis and we would like to give those people somewhere else to go to honor the victims," he said.

Dicks said he doesn't know how many people will attend the event, but he encouraged community members to show their support.

"I have no idea how many people will show up," he said. "We would like to get something to coincide with the times that the airplanes crashed, but that isn't set up yet."

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Sept. 16, 2001
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