
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 7, 1993                   TAG: 9307070414
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CHAOS IN THE PARKING LOT

AS A grandparent, I was privileged to attend Northside High School's graduation on June 11, and Roanokers should all be very proud of these young men and women. They stood together after the ceremony and prayed for our nation, therefore disapproving of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to ban prayer at public-school functions. The graduates then released balloons of the school's colors containing Scripture verses. I believe God is going to use this class for his work in the world.

However, I was disgusted with the way the Roanoke Civic Center scheduled the Jehovah's Witnesses' meeting in the main building and several consecutive graduations in the auditorium. The parking lot was total chaos and many people had no choice but to put themselves in dangerous, uncomfortable situations by parking in various lots along Williamson Road and then walking the rest of the way to the civic center.

If the Roanoke Civic Center cannot show any better consideration than this, it is time for Roanoke County schools to use the Salem Civic Center for future graduations. DORIS HUGHES ROANOKE

by CNB