On Thursday last week, Nov. 1, also known in some cultures as The Day of the Dead and in some religious traditions as All Saints Day, a group of SMU students, faculty and staff gathered around the Flagpole in the center of our campus to honor the memory of the thousands who have died in Iraq, persons from many nations.
The service, now observed for a fourth year, consisted simply of the reading of the names of the fallen followed by brief moments of silence. During the hour-long memorial more than 5,000 names were intoned, memories of those who died respectfully honored.
So it has been across the past four years, with the exception of last year’s single small student-held sign calling for the end of war.
My office sent the e-mail on All Saints Eve announcing the readings of the names of the dead. As chaplain to the university, I apologize for any confusion arising from the communication. I agree with Mr. Miles Lamont’s observation that, “There are better ways to memorialize our soldiers. And there are better ways to support the termination of this war.” Our original and abiding intention in sharing in this memorial event was singular: to honor those who have died.
Granted, there are many who believe the current war in Iraq is ill-conceived, poorly administered or far worse. Such sentiments, however, were nowhere evident Thursday. Those who gathered to read did so in reverence to those who died. In the simple act of intoning names last Thursday, some SMU students, faculty and staff chose not to forget these sacrifices.
Mr. Lamont may be interested in knowing that it was the Office of the Chaplain that organized the service of memory several years ago rededicating the SMU memorial oak tree circle and monument honoring university alumni who died in WWI. It was the Office of the Chaplain that worked with the Department of the Army to bring Colonel John Bolger, US Army, himself an SMU alumnus, to campus for the university’s rededication of the bronze plaque honoring SMU alumni who died in WWII.
It is my fervent hope that we will never again need to gather at the Flagpole for a litany of names signifying ever more grief and loss.
In the meantime, should any student, faculty or staff member wish to raise a voice, lead a prayer or organize a rally that might contribute to the hastening of this conflict’s resolution and end, The Office of the Chaplain will surely be present.
My sincere apologies; we intended no offense.
About the author:
William M. Finnin, Jr., Th. D. is the Chaplain and Minister to the university
