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At vigil, hope flickers anew even for survivor of attack
By TIM GRANT
© St. Petersburg Times, TAMPA -- Waving American flags, hundreds of New Tampa residents sang hymns and patriotic songs Sunday night at a vigil on the front lawn of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. They sat on blankets and portable chairs while listening to a survivor of the World Trade Center tragedy describe the horror he lived through. They applauded a local firefighter who was visiting New York at the time and volunteered for the rescue effort. About 400 residents prayed and listened to clergy from different religions read from the Bible, Torah and Koran. "It was uplifting to see all the different faiths come together," said Darren Silverman, 31, an Arbor Greens resident. "Hopefully, at least in this community, there's not a lot of interfaith conflict." It was a prayer vigil for remembrance, peace and unity. Organizer Melissa O'Brien said it was done to reassure families that they live in a safe community. "We need to bring hope to this community," said O'Brien, a Hunter's Green resident. "Because as we move into the future, we are facing a lot of unknowns. But together we can make it." Children handed small plastic American flags to the crowd. The vigil was a learning experience for 12-year-old Amanda Britton. "I think it was a good idea to bring people together to help us understand it because a lot of children really don't," she said. Robert Howley, a World Trade Center survivor, told the people to live without fear and go on with their lives. "We cannot forget the tragic events on Sept. 11, but more important, we cannot forget this feeling we have now. This love, this unity. There's more smiles on people's faces. More love and handshakes. We can't forget this." As darkness fell, the audience lit candles. The vigil ended with everyone standing together and singing God Bless America. - To reach Tim Grant call (813) 226-3471, or e-mail him at grant@sptimes.com.
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