Video: Remembering Sept. 12, this weekend in Morristown

Singer-songwriter Mark D. Conklin impressed us last spring as an opening act at The Minstrel in Morris Township, where he played a funny little country tune.

Mark’s subject will be serious this weekend at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center, where he will perform at a free community-wide remembrance to honor victims of the 9/11 terror attacks a decade ago.

Mark’s song is called September 12th. Here is a video:

The Branchburg resident explained the song on his blog:

Remembering September 12th

No, that’s not a typo. I meant the 12th not the 11th. Lots of stories, papers, songs, etc. have been written about September 11th. But very few, if any, about September 12th and the days that followed. It has always struck me that from the ashes of the most cruel, hateful and inhumane atrocities rose some of the most kind, courageous, loving and humane acts I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. It seemed for a moment that people actually looked past each other’s race, ethnicity, politics, social and economic status and saw each other for what we are. Human beings. I mean, for Pete’s sake, I saw fans at a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park singing “New York, New York!” If that doesn’t say it all I don’t think anything ever will.

Those few days obviously changed the lives of many people forever especially those who lost loved ones. I was very fortunate to not personally have any friends or family in those buildings that day. Of course, having lived most of my life within 30 miles of Ground Zero, I know lots of people who did. Still, the events that took place had a profound effect on me.

My parents died when I was young (Dad at 13, Mom at 20) and yet I still hadn’t grasped the uncertainty and frailty of life before that. I decided then to use the time I had been given to pursue the only real passion and dream I’d ever had. Music. It’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made and I often try and remember to thank the souls who lost their lives that day for inspiring me to live mine.

Almost nine years later I finally released my first full length CD and named it “It’s About Time.” Of course, the obvious reference of the title was to the fact that it had taken me 40 years to get around to it. But what it really meant to me was “It’s About…TIME!” The precious, unknown amount of time on this earth we’ve each been given to love what we do and who we are with. I decided to include a song I wrote called “September 12th” and in honor of the upcoming anniversary, I’ve put together a YouTube video to share with you.

My hope is that on September 11th we take time to remember our brothers and sisters who lost their lives. And that on September 12th we take a moment to think about how we want to live ours.

Peace,

MDC

The remembrance, which starts at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, is a joint production of the theater and the Arts Council of the Morris Area.

According to the theater, the program on the MPAC main stage “will include song, dance, speech and more, involving local school children, local officials, religious organizations and community non-profits. It will be followed by a brief outdoor program at the Vail Mansion reflective pool where 64 votives will be lit to remember those 64 people from Morris County whose lives were lost on that tragic day.”

MPAC and the Arts Council are  working with “Tuesday’s Children,” a nonprofit that provides programs and services for 9/11 children, families and first-responders.   There will be readings from the organization’s book, The Legacy Letters, which will be sold in the lobby. All proceeds benefit 9/11 family programs.

In addition to Mark Conklin, these organizations and individuals are scheduled to participate:

-The New Jersey Youth Choir
-The Cavalry Baptist Church of Morristown
-St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of Morristown
-Temple B’Nai Or of Morristown
-Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty
-The Morristown Neighborhood House
-Mayo Performing Arts Company and Performing Arts School students, along with other guest performers, singing America Rising, an original song written by Sharilyn Pitifer-Minetti on Sept. 11, 2001.