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September 11, 2002 WKU, Community Gather To Several hundred students, faculty, staff, community members, campus construction workers along with fire, police and emergency personnel gathered on the lawn of the Kentucky Building and lined Big Red Way for the ceremony. "We have gathered here to celebrate hope because America not only has survived but has been strengthened," WKU President Gary Ransdell said. "We bowed our heads in prayer and in grief, but we did not bend our knees to the forces of evil that brought this tragedy upon us." Bowling Green Mayor Sandy Jones read Proverbs 24:10 which says "if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small." "One year ago today on a crystal clear September morning, not a single one of us knew the true meaning of adversity," Jones said. "But as the horrific events of that day etched themselves into our very souls we began to feel it. We began to feel it in the strengthening of our spines. We began to feel it as our tear-stained eyes burned and our voices choked in our throats. Amidst the shock, sadness, mourning and disbelief a new bravery was beginning, a new strength was emerging." In the past year, America has become stronger with renewed faith, love, community spirit and patriotism, Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon said. "September 11, 2001 we saw the worst most evil actions that humanity could offer," he said. "We responded with the best we could offer." The community-wide "Remember September Eleventh" ceremony included the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America" by the WKU Chamber Singers, a moment of silence and the ringing of the chimes at Cherry Hall and Guthrie Tower. Following the ceremony, the Kentucky Building provided a special viewing of "New York: A City Searching For Hope," an exhibit of photographs taken by WKU photojournalism students who traveled to New York City in the days following Sept. 11. An accompanying video produced by James Kenney, photojournalism program coordinator, and Tim Broekema, photojournalism assistant professor, also was shown. The formal opening of the exhibit is scheduled for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Kentucky Building. The exhibit will be on display during the fall semester.
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