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Ceremony Of Remembrance,
Hope and Unity
Remarks by
Dr. E. Ann McGee, President
Seminole Community College
Thursday, September 20, 2001
3:00 p.m.
Thank you, David and Emily….what incredible talent. Thank you for touching us with your special gift of music.
First, I would like to thank the faculty, staff and student committee
who put together today’s ceremony. It was a team effort and a family
event, and I know that we all appreciate the opportunity to be here
today with our Seminole Community College family and reflect on the
events of the past week.
As we begin, I would ask that you bow your head for a moment of silent
prayer not only for the innocent victims of September 11 and their
families, but also for the world's leaders that they will have infinite
wisdom as we face a most uncertain future.
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
Was it only just one short week ago that our lives changed so drastically? And what have we done since then?
Watched a lot of television?
Called friends and family that we hadn't connected with in a while and told them we loved them?
Watched a sunrise or a sunset and just marveled at the pinks and oranges reflected in the sky?
Listened, really listened to a bird chirping? Or to a child talking about their day?
Yes, I think the events of the past week have focused all of us –
perhaps riveted is a better word – on trying to comprehend what the
truly important things are in our lives.
Our lives will never
be the same.
This morning Channel 2 carried a special on our own EMS and
Firefighting programs. Thank you, Rob Holborn, for meeting the reporter
here at 5:30 a.m. to talk about the training that our students go through
so that they can rush into a burning building confident that they are
equipped with the skills to make a difference.
Hearing Rob
talk about the training that we provide to all of the emergency
services people in our County – police, fire, rescue -- it caused me to
realize that when those frantic calls went out from the World Trade
Center, it was most likely community college graduates who were
responding. And it gave me a deeper appreciation for what we do – and
what we need to continue doing -- every day at Seminole Community
College.
Yes, our lives will never be the same.
Tonight, our President will address the nation and set the stage for
our "War of Infinite Justice." My family are all military, so the
address tonight is going to be a very personal one for me. We have four
pilots, a nurse and a medic who may all be called up to serve our great
nation. And I know that I am not alone – think about our students who
even now are being called to active duty.
Whatever your
religious faith, I would ask that you please pray for our nation's
leaders, as well as for the leaders around the world because this is a
global conflict that will test all of the world's leaders in the days
and months ahead. Pray that they will have wisdom, courage and divine
guidance.
We've
often talked about "thinking globally, but acting locally," and I would
submit that this is so true today. For you see Seminole Community
College has 1166 international students. Students who came to us so
that they could change their lives. Students who enrich us with their
diversity. Students who are feeling the impact of this tragedy too and
who may not have the family support system close at hand as we do.
This tragedy is an opportunity for us to not only reach out to those we
know, but also to those we don’t know who may be feeling frightened and
alone. If you remember Elton John's song about The Circle of Life, it
is certainly truer today than ever. We are all bound together and this
horrendous event should only serve to bind us closer.
Yes, our lives will never be the same.
The challenge will be for us to make our world better. To learn from
this act of unspeakable terror, to discover its causes, and to turn
this world upside down, examining our values, examining how we treat
others and think of others and truly make this world a better place.
Weren't we amazed at our nation's response – that patriotism is now
back in vogue. That it is now "cool" to display an American flag – if
you can find one. And that a song about "being proud to be an American"
would give us chills? And what if we carried this a step further and
put prayer back into our schools? Why did it take a tragedy such as
this to focus us on what is really important?
Yes, our lives will never be the same. But our challenge – our need for
hope and unity worldwide – will only be answered if, as a place of
wisdom and knowledge, we work tirelessly to promote understanding among
all peoples. We have an incredible opportunity at Seminole Community
College to touch lives as we have never touched them before. To
encourage discussion as we have never done before. And to understand as
we have never understood before. The challenge is ours.
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