Under the banner of unity

By BILL VARIAN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 18, 2001

TAMPA -- With a red, white and blue umbrella to protect her from the sun, Laura Molina stepped out of the County Center and into nearby Courthouse Square park.

Hundreds of other county employees did the same on Monday morning, joining dozens of workers from surrounding businesses and government offices for a half-hour "Americans United" ceremony.

"I think this past week has been hard for all of us," Molina said. "I think it's just important to get together to show our feelings, to show our unity."

Hillsborough County joined communities across the nation that have held some form of observance after last week's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.

The assembly listened to patriotic speeches from elected officials and sang God Bless America. Republican state Sen. Jim Sebesta led a brief chant of "U.S.A., U.S.A." and unfurled a faded version of Old Glory.

The flag was the same one that he hung from him home -- then in Temple Terrace -- during the entirety of the 444-day Iranian hostage crisis from 1978-80.

"It was the same situation in many regards back then," Sebesta said afterward. "Again, there was this feeling back home of what should we do. I decided I would fly that flag for the entire 444 days."

Color guards from the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office, Hillsborough Fire Rescue, Tampa Fire, Plant City and Temple Terrace opened the ceremony by parading more vibrant versions of the Stars and Stripes. Hillsborough firefighters mingled in the crowd, gathering donations for the American Red Cross, using boots as collection plates.

"We are all colors, all beliefs, different in all respects except one: We are Americans," said County Commission Chairwoman Pat Frank, who organized the event. "We are Americans united."

Mayor Dick Greco noted that flags are impossible to come by in stores since Tuesday and also remarked on larger-than-usual turnouts at churches across the nation Sunday. He said it is a shame that it takes a disaster for both things that happen, but urged citizens to keep their faith.

Many in the crowd expressed sentiments in shades of red, white and blue. They included Karen Matches, a county communications employee who wore a vest of flag patterns and star-shaped buttons that she made for Independence Day.

"I want the world to see we are united," she said.

- Bill Varian can be reached at (813) 226-3387 or varian@sptimes.com.

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