St. Johns Multifaith Service Honors WTC Victims

In a spirited display of solidarity, more than 600 Queens residents recently gathered at St. Johns University for an interfaith service that honored the victims of the World Trade Center disaster.
The convocation, "Queens Comes Together in the Wake of Americas Tragedy," was led by Claire Shulman, Queens borough president. Attending were leaders from several religious groups: the Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, the Armenian Apostolic Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
"Though three planes hit their targets, these egregious acts did not succeed in their intended goal," Shulman said. "Our city and our nation have not been brought to their knees. We may be heartbroken today, but in time, our hearts will heal. Like the spirit of our immigrant forebears, we will prevail."
The borough president declared, "We must comfort ourselves with the knowledge that like a phoenix rising from the ashes, there is much justice and goodness that emerged out of the disaster."
She asked the congregation to hold up the piece of paper on each seat with the name of a missing or dead person written on it for a moment of silence.
Later, as the congregation sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," accompanied by the Queens Symphony Orchestra, many werewaving flags. Police, fire and other rescuers received a standing ovation.
Prayers were offered in various languages by ministers in varied attire. Some prayers were read while others were chanted. The theme of all was unity in a time of crisis.
Imam Zameer Sattaur Majid Al-Abidin, an Islamic leader, told the gathering, "May we stand all together through this difficult time to promote peace and love over violence and hate." The Rev. Floyd Flake of the Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church said, "All of us have suffered together."
Barbara Duncan of Jamaica said, "I think it was important that every borough has an opportunity to express their sorrow in this tragedy." Venerable Yi Fa of the International Buddhist Progress Society offered a prayer for the harmony of the earth, sung to the tune of "Amazing Grace."
District Attorney Richard Brown said, "Now its time for us to go on with our lives, to remember always that which occurred on Sept. 11, and, as best we can, to put that which occurred behind us. Together, were going to bounce back. Weve already begun to do so. We will rebuild, and we will be stronger than we ever have been before."