GREENVILLE Candle service will honor victims

Smith said everyone she contacted was ready and willing to participate.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Carol Smith expects a big turnout for tonight's "God Bless America" Community Candlelight Service at Thiel College.
The Osborn Road woman said she decided a week ago that the community had to have some way to come together in light of the terrorist attacks in America.
"I know we're going to have over 1,000 people," she said.
The service is set for 7:30 p.m. at Passavant Center.
Smith said she was at home sick when the terrorist attacks unfolded on her television. When she went back to work as a waitress at the Stone Arch Restaurant, she brought in red, white and blue ribbons for the staff to wear.
That led to discussions with customers about what the community should do, and Smith said she decided on a candlelight service. She called Thiel College and got permission to usePassavant Center.
Shuttle buses: Because parking on campus is limited, she called Anderson Coach and Tour. It offered free shuttle buses so people could park at St. Michael Church, Zion Reformed Church, Greenville High School and Hempfield Station One.
Things began to gel quickly from that point, Smith said, explaining that everyone she called readily agreed to participate.
She secured the services of soloists Nora Drake and Ruth Fry Guerrini. Mayor Clifford Harriger and Cindy Robbins, wife of state Sen. Robert Robbins, agreed to make opening remarks.
She then called Lt. Col. Duane Hart, deputy commander of the 757th Airlift Squadron at the Air Reserve Station in Vienna, Ohio, who immediately agreed to serve as the keynote speaker.
Pastors from various churches and Thiel officials also have roles in the program, Smith said.