Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 12, 1993 TAG: 9306120224
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LARRY W. BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In a gathering dubbed "Operation: Jeremiah" the graduates prayed and then let the balloons fly. Each balloon held a small piece of paper with the Scripture from Jeremiah 29:11-13:
"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope . . . ."
Graduates Synta Keeling and Mark Ratliff led the prayer outside the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium after their graduation ceremony had ended.
"Everyone was supportive of our efforts, but it had to be student-sponsored," Keeling said.
Ratliff added that the seniors "wanted to ask for God's guidance."
Crystal Palmer, who organized the balloon release, said the class decided to take action about three weeks ago when they thought there would be no prayer at all at their graduation.
"We did it for the senior class and for those who have faith in God," said Palmer, who, along with her family, bought the balloons - school colors, of course - filled them with helium, and brought them to the ceremony.
The Supreme Court this week upheld a lower-court ruling allowing student-led prayers at graduations, as opposed to having a member of the clergy deliver a prayer.
Senior class President Sarah Life began the invocation, "For those who would like to join me in prayer . . . ."
Nearly all 270 graduates participated in the balloon release. Many said prayer should be a part of graduation.
"It should be everyone's choice," said Arnold Speaks Jr. "I'm glad we were able to do it."
Michele Smith agreed.
"I think it's something well-deserved. We've worked hard and we need to show some gratitude to God," she said.
DeVon Richardson said he felt his class did the right thing at the right time. "I think it was appropriate for this ceremony," he said. "We should keep the tradition of prayer at graduations going."
Palmer added that the graduates did not want to have a noisy demonstration.
"We're not going to make a scene. We're going to do it slow and help others who are fighting it," she said.
by CNB