In startling contrast to the religion-free 9/11 memorial service held at “Ground Zero” today, Sunnyside and Woodside clerics joined together and led their own rousing ecumenical and patriotic ceremony at Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church,
which started astonishingly with the last two verses of the second chapter of the Koran, sung in Arabic. The service included a standing pledge of allegiance by all to the flag placed on the altar, and ended with all attendees joining the choir singing “God Bless America.”
The group of like-minded religious leaders, all of whom offered prayers and brief remarks on the necessity of remembrance, included from left, Ibrahim Sayar from Peace Islands Institute (arranged by Turkish Cultural Center Queens), Reverend Neil Margetson of Sunnyside Reformed Church, Father Joseph Jerome of All Saints Episcopal, Reverend Joshua Hollmann of Christ Lutheran of Woodside, and host Pastor of Queen of Angels Church, Father Brian Dowd.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer attended with his Chief of Staff, Alexis Confer. Van Bramer spotted the soprano, Nicholle Bittlingmeyer, at the microphone and declared, “This is going to be good.” Performances of a Protestant hymn by Rev. Margotsen and Rev. Hollman, and two by Gereja Kristen Protestant Indonesian choir of Sunnyside were well received.
Two residents gave testimony to their September 11 experience, Thomas Whelan and Marie Joyce. Joyce spoke with a strong Irish brogue and broke down in tears as she talked. She said she initially thought the World Trade Center attacks were the beginning of “World War III”; however, in the aftermath, the experience strengthened her faith, and then prompted her to become an American citizen.
“We needed this kind of interfaith event on 9/11, “ said one surprised, regular longtime Queen of Angels parishioner. “Including other faiths at this memorial was good. I didn’t expect to like it, but I did.”
