Programs pay tribute to 9/11 victims in words, music

BY STEVE DANIEL

The Old Dominion University community paid fitting - and moving - tributes Sept. 11 to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks a year ago.

Hundreds of faculty, staff and students gathered in front of Webb Center at 8:30 a.m. for a program of remarks, music, prayer and silence.

David B. Palmer, an assistant chief with the the city of Norfolk Department of Fire-Rescue and a recent graduate of Old Dominion's master's of public administration program, gave the introductory remarks.

In addition to honoring all of those who came to the aid of the 9/11 victims, Palmer announced, "I want to assure all those gathered here today that your emergency responders are better prepared and more ready now than we were one year ago in the event a disaster of any kind strikes us.

"This is due in great measure to the cooperation and very hard work of our people in each fire-rescue station and police precinct, 911 center, hospital, clinic and pharmacy, emergency operations center and military base, to name just a few."

Palmer's father, Allan V. Palmer, taught in Old Dominion's business school in the 1960s and served as chair of the M.B.A. program in the latter part of the decade.

The program also included remarks by Thomas Lankford, a junior occupational and technical studies major from Chesapeake, who volunteered his time to help with clean-up efforts at the Pentagon.

Speaking at the morning program, President Roseann Runte said, "May we each use this lesson in the brevity of life to accomplish good and kind deeds each day, and may our memory of this assault on our democratic republic strengthen our resolve to ensure that those freedoms for which America stands live on in our hearts, govern our deeds and light the future of our children with hope."

The Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center atrium was the site for a program of music and poetry the evening of Sept. 11, sponsored by the music and English departments.

Old Dominion's Symphony Orchestra, Women's Chorale, Men's Chorale, Concert Choir and Wind Ensemble performed. Among the selections was music professor Adolphus Hailstork's piece, "As Falling Leaves," which he wrote in response to the events of last Sept. 11.

Three members of the English department - Luisa Igloria, Sheri Reynolds and Tim Seibles - along with President Runte read poems they wrote in response to the attacks.