On the night of the coordinated terrorists attacks that brought down buildings in the World Trade Center complex in New York City and destroyed a portion of the Pentagon, several students gathered at 11 o'clock in the evening outside the Niswonger Commons building for a time of reflection, discussion, and prayer.

The American flag that hangs on a tall pole near the campus main entrance was lowered to half-mast as the scope of the tragedy became apparent Tuesday morning. Since then, lapel ribbons commemorating the thousands killed in the attacks have begun to appear across the campus, and several students, faculty, and staff members have become blood donors, some for the first time in their lives, in answer to a nationwide call for blood for use in treating survivors.

On Thursday, Sept., 13, at 11:30 a.m., students, staff, and faculty of the college gathered in the auditorium of the Annie Hogan Byrd Auditorium for a service of hymns, brief comments, scripture reading, and prayer for unity and healing in the wake of the disasters.

Campus Chaplain the Rev. Dr. Steve Weisz, Tusculum President Dr. Dolphus Henry, Student Government Association President Andy Merriman, and Assistant Professor of Commons and History Jennifer Brooks led the ceremony. Organ music was provided by Adjunct Professor of Music James Winfree.

Dr. Weisz called for healing, forgiveness, compassion, and prayer and help for the suffering. He talked briefly of his own love of Manhattan, where he was born and raised, and read an eloquent poem by the late poet Walt Whitman about that famous and busy locale.

Jennifer Brooks, her voice sometimes failing her because of emotion, read from the New Testament Book of Romans, in which the Apostle Paul urgesthat evil be overcome by good – a theme that was reflected again in comments given by other participants in the ceremony.

Merriman talked of his own sorrow and anger at the attack upon American soil, and of the need for an appropriate resistance by lovers of goodness and freedom of the dark forces that brought the attacks about.

Dr. Henry called upon those present to respond to the tragedy on a personal level through a renewed awareness of the needs of those around them, thereby countering the evil of the attack by increased goodness to others.

The question that will be asked over the passing years, he said, will be "Where were you? And what did you do?"

At the conclusion of the service, Dr. Weisz pronounced a blessing upon those gathered, calling for God's grace to bring them comfort at a time of national sorrow.

The service was dismissed in silence, the participants filing out while reflecting on what they had heard.