Guest guest Posted September 28, 2000 Report Share Posted September 28, 2000 Don't know if this is true, but a good story and nice if it is true. Love & prayers Judee > These kids are from a Seventh Day Adventist Black college here in Huntsville. > > The Band Marches In > A joyful noise in the streets of New York City. > > by Rich Lowry, as published in National Review > September 16, 2001 11:30 a.m. > > When I was walking back to my apartment yesterday, I heard the > clangor of a marching > band, getting closer. I walked to the corner of 14th Street and Fifth > Avenue - where > on Tuesday people had stood and watched the towers burn - and > suddenly there appeared > a small marching band, all black kids, in purple shirts, playing, > " When the Saints > Come Marching In. " They crossed Fifth, and people stopped to watch, > smile, and clap. > > It turned out they were from Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. > Someone had had > the inspired idea to drive 24 hours to come here and raise a joyful > noise in the > streets of New York City. What a sight! A kid held an American flag > at the front of > the group, and a couple of others held shovels over their shoulders. > After all the > sadness, the prayer vigils and the candles, here was something > clamorous and happy and > resolute (and even a little martial). This is what we needed, even if > no one had > realized it until this noisy apparition appeared among us, conducting > the normal > business of a New York Saturday - walking our dogs, carrying plastic > grocery bags, > strolling idly toward brunch--but with the pall of downtown muting everything. > > The band headed to Union Square, where a makeshift memorial has been thrown up. > Stragglers followed behind, and people parted to make way, clapping > as the kids passed > through, blowing on their trumpets, banging on their drums. When they > got in the > middle of the square, they played the " Star Spangled Banner. " One of > those half-crazy > blacks guys you sometimes see in New York, was waving a flag and > practically jumping > up and down: " You go kids! You go kids! " > > A Hispanic woman hugged one of the girls with the group, and pressed > $20 into her > hand. " I really want to hear `Battle Hymn of the Republic', " she > said, when the band > paused in between songs. Next, " Amazing Grace, " played softly, just > on the horns. > Then, everyone sang " God Bless America, " without the accompaniment of > the band, which > eventually turned around and headed out of the square, drums blazing, > one black lady > making a point of hugging every member of the group that she could. A black guy > approached the one white member of the group - walking in back, not playing an > instrument - and extended his hand, saying emphatically, " THANK YOU! " > > The band headed down University Avenue, playing " America the > Beautiful, " a wonderfully > bizarre sight, marching the wrong way down the one-way street. Car > alarms went off as > the band passed. Each step of the way, people paused on the sidewalks > and applauded. > People peered out of the windows of stores and restaurants. More > people followed > along. " I don't know where they're going, but I'm with them, " someone said. > > They turned out to be headed to Washington Square Park, a short walk > away, where > another spontaneous memorial had been erected. They marched into the > middle of the > park, past the candles and the missing posters up on a fence, and > played the " Star > Spangled Banner " again. A Hispanic woman hugged the kid carrying the > flag, and buried > her face into his neck and began to sob and sob. She was > inconsolable, bleary-eyed, > her nose red with crying. She was carrying a couple of flowers and a > color photocopy > of a family - with one of its members presumably gone forever. The > kid with the flag > eventually stood back in his place. Other band members hugged the > lady, who - may God > comfort her - was giving off waves of heart-rending grief. The kid > holding the flag > began to cry, and as his eyes filled with tears, he hoisted the flag > higher with both > his arms. > > Then, the band's leader - an older, take-charge-type - consulted with > one of the > locals about how to find the next park, and off they marched. They > were part of a > group called National Association for the Prevention of Starvation. I > know nothing > about the group except that its website says that, " NAPS takes its > marching band on > all of its major projects to minister to the spirit of the recipients > of its aid. " > Yesterday, they ministered to the spirit of New York. > -- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 28, 2000 Report Share Posted September 28, 2000 Don't know if this is true, but a good story and nice if it is true. Love & prayers Judee > These kids are from a Seventh Day Adventist Black college here in Huntsville. > > The Band Marches In > A joyful noise in the streets of New York City. > > by Rich Lowry, as published in National Review > September 16, 2001 11:30 a.m. > > When I was walking back to my apartment yesterday, I heard the > clangor of a marching > band, getting closer. I walked to the corner of 14th Street and Fifth > Avenue - where > on Tuesday people had stood and watched the towers burn - and > suddenly there appeared > a small marching band, all black kids, in purple shirts, playing, > " When the Saints > Come Marching In. " They crossed Fifth, and people stopped to watch, > smile, and clap. > > It turned out they were from Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. > Someone had had > the inspired idea to drive 24 hours to come here and raise a joyful > noise in the > streets of New York City. What a sight! A kid held an American flag > at the front of > the group, and a couple of others held shovels over their shoulders. > After all the > sadness, the prayer vigils and the candles, here was something > clamorous and happy and > resolute (and even a little martial). This is what we needed, even if > no one had > realized it until this noisy apparition appeared among us, conducting > the normal > business of a New York Saturday - walking our dogs, carrying plastic > grocery bags, > strolling idly toward brunch--but with the pall of downtown muting everything. > > The band headed to Union Square, where a makeshift memorial has been thrown up. > Stragglers followed behind, and people parted to make way, clapping > as the kids passed > through, blowing on their trumpets, banging on their drums. When they > got in the > middle of the square, they played the " Star Spangled Banner. " One of > those half-crazy > blacks guys you sometimes see in New York, was waving a flag and > practically jumping > up and down: " You go kids! You go kids! " > > A Hispanic woman hugged one of the girls with the group, and pressed > $20 into her > hand. " I really want to hear `Battle Hymn of the Republic', " she > said, when the band > paused in between songs. Next, " Amazing Grace, " played softly, just > on the horns. > Then, everyone sang " God Bless America, " without the accompaniment of > the band, which > eventually turned around and headed out of the square, drums blazing, > one black lady > making a point of hugging every member of the group that she could. A black guy > approached the one white member of the group - walking in back, not playing an > instrument - and extended his hand, saying emphatically, " THANK YOU! " > > The band headed down University Avenue, playing " America the > Beautiful, " a wonderfully > bizarre sight, marching the wrong way down the one-way street. Car > alarms went off as > the band passed. Each step of the way, people paused on the sidewalks > and applauded. > People peered out of the windows of stores and restaurants. More > people followed > along. " I don't know where they're going, but I'm with them, " someone said. > > They turned out to be headed to Washington Square Park, a short walk > away, where > another spontaneous memorial had been erected. They marched into the > middle of the > park, past the candles and the missing posters up on a fence, and > played the " Star > Spangled Banner " again. A Hispanic woman hugged the kid carrying the > flag, and buried > her face into his neck and began to sob and sob. She was > inconsolable, bleary-eyed, > her nose red with crying. She was carrying a couple of flowers and a > color photocopy > of a family - with one of its members presumably gone forever. The > kid with the flag > eventually stood back in his place. Other band members hugged the > lady, who - may God > comfort her - was giving off waves of heart-rending grief. The kid > holding the flag > began to cry, and as his eyes filled with tears, he hoisted the flag > higher with both > his arms. > > Then, the band's leader - an older, take-charge-type - consulted with > one of the > locals about how to find the next park, and off they marched. They > were part of a > group called National Association for the Prevention of Starvation. I > know nothing > about the group except that its website says that, " NAPS takes its > marching band on > all of its major projects to minister to the spirit of the recipients > of its aid. " > Yesterday, they ministered to the spirit of New York. > -- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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