Sept. 11 memorial ceremony shapes up

Wesley United Methodist Church may not hold all the visitors attending Columbia County's" Remembering Our Sorrow, Proclaiming Our Hope" ceremony on Sept. 11.

The county will honor the victims and heroes of Sept. 11 with a memorial service and patriotic celebration on the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

"It is going to be a wonderful night," said Columbia County Commission Chairman James Whitehead. "Our only problem will be where everybody is going to sit and stand."

The event committee of nine community leaders met Wednesday to finalize the evening's agenda before the final planning meeting on Labor Day. The committee is made up of representatives from the Martinez Fire Department, county sheriff's office and emergency management agencies, The Columbia County News-Times, and Wesley United Methodist Church.

The program, to begin at 7 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist, will include music, liturgy and scripture readings from many area churches including Christ the King Lutheran and Church of the Holy Comforter in addition to some not yet finalized. The Rev. Glenn Ethridge, of Wesley, wanted the event to encompass all denominations.

Candles will be lit for two Columbia County residents killed on Sept. 11. Jolene Richardson was killed in New York City and Major Stephen Long died in Washington, D.C., while rescuing people from the Pentagon.

Sean Suggs will present a multimedia presentation to help people remember and honor the tragedy's victims and heroes.

Including heroes, the combined color guards of the sheriff's office and Martinez Fire Department will kick off the ceremony with a presentation of the colors. Firefighter David Butler will play Amazing Grace on bagpipes, which is common at firefighter funerals.

"There is going to be some good music that night," said Pam Tucker, county emergency services director.

An original organ composition by Eloise Vidal will be played as a tribute to the victims. The Evans High School Band Wind Ensemble, directed by Richard Brasco, will perform a John Phillip Sousa medley and American the Beautiful.

"This is going to be wonderful, isn't it?" asked Whitehead as he looked over the program for the first time.

"It is going to be a very meaningful and very heart felt night," he said. "It really will be great. it will be something we can all be proud of and blessed by."