‘It can happen anywhere’ : Greater Morristown grieves Orlando together

Mourners with pictures of Orlando shooting victims. Photo by Ally Tobler, June 15, 2016
Mourners with pictures of Orlando shooting victims. Photo by Ally Tobler, June 15, 2016
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Mourners with pictures of Orlando shooting victims. Photo by Ally Tobler, June 15, 2016
Mourners with pictures of Orlando shooting victims. Photo by Ally Tobler, June 15, 2016

By Ally Tobler

Shared grieving is central to the Jewish faith, according to Rabbi Ellie Miller of Temple B’Nai Or.

On Wednesday, it was central to hundreds of people from many denominations, who came to Morristown for an interfaith service and vigil commemorating the 49 people killed over the weekend at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

“Sometimes mourning with others is a good experience as opposed to feeling sad by yourself,” said Morristown resident Susan D’Alessandro. “It’s a way of supporting each other.”

Morristown is a long way from Orlando. Yet “it’s the kind of thing that can happen anywhere… it could be any of us,” D’Alessandro said.

Pictures of the victims lined the walls inside the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. The victims ranged in age from 20 to 50. All of them seemed to have vivacity in their eyes and smiles across their faces.

Photos of Orlando shooting victims line the walls of Morristown's Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. Photo by Ally Tobler
Photos of Orlando shooting victims line the walls of Morristown’s Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. Photo by Ally Tobler

Miller was among speakers from many area congregations. They illustrated the diversity of the community: Christians and Jews, Presbyterians and Buddhists, Mormons and Methodists, blacks and whites, men and women, gays and straight people.

“All are welcome,” said the Rev. Cynthia Black, rector at Redeemer, an LGBT-friendly parish.

She expressed hope that such tolerance can be reflected throughout the nation.

“We cannot let hate win,” Black said.

Police directed traffic for a procession of participants from the church to the Green.  Pictures of the victims were raised, illuminated by candles and glow sticks, and everyone sang, “We Shall Overcome.”

Ally Tobler is a Morristown High School senior. This fall, she will study journalism at the University of Maryland.

Morristown's Church of the Redeemer was packed for an interfaith service for the Orlando shooting victims. Photo by Ally Tobler
Morristown’s Church of the Redeemer was packed for an interfaith service for the Orlando shooting victims. Photo by Ally Tobler

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