Led by HCC professor, Darian Hybl (Standing center), students, faculty and staff at HCC held a noon prayer vigil outside in the HCC Student Pavilion. Hybl spoke briefly to the audience, who had gathered to remember the events and the victims of the nation's tragedy just one day before, on September 11.

Like so many of you this weekend (September 15,2001), my family and I united like never before and displayed our American Flags with pride. I wanted to share some words that I composed this weekend in the early hours of Saturday morning after watching the tragedy unfold on the news...I hope the words touch you as the events touched me. - Don King

A Nation Changed Forever

We were a Nation once divided...
Race and religion
Man and Woman
Parents and Child
Husband and wife
Rich and poor.
But on the 11th day of September
We became a Nation united; changed forever.
It was on this day in the early morning
That tragedy struck without a warning.
It was on this day that lives were taken
Buildings crumbled, hearts were shaken.
It was on this day of unimaginable sorrow
That a Nation asked, "What will happen tomorrow?"
So with this question embedded within our minds
We became a part of the ‘scene' to see who they will find...
Will it be a mother, a father, a daughter, a son -
A friend, a colleague, a neighbor, a loved one...
We begin to see photos of the many people who were there
We "meet" their families, their friends and all who care.
We light candles, we pray, we unite, we cry...one and all -
But the 50 stars and the 13 stripes will never fall.
We are a Nation of strength, of courage, of valor,
Of faith, of unity, of differences and great Power.
On this day when lives were forever changed by horrific act of terrorism;
We became a Nation united...
United by pain, faith, and American
Patriotism.

9-15-01
Don King, Admissions Counselor
Pitt Community College