CALL FOR PRAYER

On September 18, 2001, Southern University held a memorial service for the victims of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon attacks.
The memorial was held in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith- Brown Memorial Union. Avery Wilson, SGA President, welcomed the crowd. Floyd Prescott delivered the occasion in which he said that we were in a time of mourning but we must move on.
Following the march on the colors by the SUBR ROTC Honor Guard, JoAnne Jones, a librarian at John B. Cade Library, sung an inspirational rendition of the National Anthem.
A few words of comfort were offered by Rev. Jesse Bilberry, pastor of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church, in which he exclaimed that prayer was very appropriate for the times we are currently going through.
Bilberry likened the attack on the World Trade Center to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy and also the bombing in Oklahoma City. According to Bilberry, September 11, 2001 will be a day that “we as Americans will always remember.”
Bilberry went on to say,” Without God we could do nothing,” and also that America needs to return to God.
“We must ask God to bless everyone in this world, not only America,” said Bilberry.
Dr. George Calvin, of the Wesley Foundation, called the attacks a reflection in memory stating that “When evil comes God gives us strength. God does not do evil; we do evil.”
“I was very happy about the hundreds of thousands of African Americans in New York helping the victims,” said Calvin.
The audience composed of students, faculty and staff joined together to sing “God Bless America” after Calvin’s speech.
Next Edward Jackson, Chancellor of SUBR spoke to the audience in attendance. He thanked everyone for sharing this moment with the SU family.
“Few people in the world know hurt and pain as we do. For over 100 years we suffered. Let us not become that which we despise,” said Jackson.
Jackson encouraged all students at SU to support the cause. He also urged everyone to give to the United Way and local charities to help the victims.