Uniting Together
After the terrorist attacks in New York City and the nation’s Capitol, the world, the nation and the community have united together in efforts and prayers.
On Friday at 5:30 p.m., Logan came together in Cache Valley’s Community Memorial Service in remembrance of the events of Tuesday.
The Memorial Service led and ended with the theme, “Remembrance and Hope.”
“I think just taking the religious leaders that come together in act of unity is demonstration of what our valley is doing,” Mayor Doug Thompson said.
Thompson welcomed all who came and proceeded with a moment to remember those who are missing or lost their lives in the terrible event.
Kevin Skidmore, member of the Church of Christ, gave the first of the five prayers of the evening.
The second prayer was given by Saleem Syed Ali, a member of the Islamic Center. His brother worked at the World Trade Center, but was late for work on Tuesday. He got out of the building in time to see what was happening, Ali said.
These are times of adversity for America and times of adversity for the Muslims, he said.
Concluding his prayer, he asked for “protection for all of us from evil, give strength to family, friends.”
Following Ali, Dean Quayle, a stake president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave a prayer.
“Pray for our President and all those who serve with him, that they will lead this nation in justice,” he said. “May we as a nation turn to thee.”
Quayle prayed “for all those in rescue efforts to find those that might live.”
Following the two prayers, Steve Siporin, Jewish faith, gave a Kaddish – a Hebrew prayer offered upon the death and the anniversary of the death.
In between the prayers and speakers were musical performances.
Barbara Lachmar, of Baha’i faith, said a prayer for the enemies within us.
“Lead them and us from prejudice and truth,” she said.
“May this act to hatred be a call of universal love,” Lachmar said.
“Let the religions agree, make the nations agree, so we may see each other as family,” she said in the conclusion of the prayer.
This was the largest group to turn out to an inter-denominational event in Logan, Thompson said.