A symbol of unity, procession has special meaning this year

Bryce Alderton

Against a sky painted in orange, red and yellow from the sun hiding

behind clouds, nearly 1,000 devout followers of 16 different faiths

joined together.

They held small lights and walked along the Huntington Beach Pier

singing such songs as “God Bless America” and “Amazing Grace” with a

bagpipe accompaniment.

The candlelight vigil concluded the 2002 Procession of Lights, the

third installment presented by the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith

Shelter to celebrate faith, hope and love in the community by recognizing

all religions in one place at one time.

“This is a wonderful program to bring unity to the community top to

bottom,” said Irvine resident Muzeffar Siddiai, who was among 20 Muslims

representing the Islamic Society of Orange County during Sunday’s

festivities. “I hope that hope spreads in the whole world and people

understand how to live with each other.”

Prior to the candlelight walk were prayers and songs by religious

leaders and choirs of the 16 faith communities participating in the

procession that included Temple Beth David, the Church of Religious

Science, Hindu Faith of Orange County, St. Bonaventure Church and the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Some came for the cause and others for the prayer, but it was the

choir that held special meaning for Fountain Valley resident Winnie Bell,

who sat bundled up in red earmuffs, gloves and a jacket to guard against

the cool wind.

She sat huddled on a blanket on a grassy embankment with two of her

children Amanda and Tyler, to watch their dad and sister Megan sing in

the choir.

“It’s nice to get together to celebrate what we have in common and to

celebrate our differences,” Doug Bell said.

This year’s procession theme was “God Bless America, God Bless the

World, United We Stand” and the program got underway by recognizing two

officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Sgt. Kevin

Devlin and officer Tom Kennedy, whom the Huntington Beach Police

Department invited to be the Guests of Honor at the procession.

Huntington Beach Police officers formed friendships with officers from

the Port Authority when they visited the Ground Zero site at the World

Trade Center last month delivering $90,000 to the New York Police

Department, Fire Department of New York and the Port Authority.

The $90,000 was raised by the Huntington Beach Police Officers’

Foundation through its T-shirt sales.

“We don’t think we’re heroes but the Huntington Beach Police

Department, the restaurants and the local people have all been great,”

Kennedy said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been treated as nice as this.”

The trip to California was a welcome respite for the officers who have

often spent 12-hour days digging for bodies through the World Trade

Center rubble and will continue to do so for as long as they are needed,

they said.

“It’s most rewarding doing something every day that has a purpose,”

Kennedy said. “I get tired yeah, but exhausted, no. You develop bonds

with people and I’ve never seen our guys work as hard as they do down

there.”

Surf City Congressman Dana Rohrabacher summed up the day.

“Good and decent people are expressing solidarity of soul and spirit

in the world,” Rohrabacher said. “Look around, we’re all respectful of

each other’s rights to faith, getting along and caring for our families.

It’s the best America’s got.”