Prayer Vigil marks 20th anniversary of 9/11

By Catherine Godbey

For the Enquirer

George Hearring believes in the power of prayer.

For the past five years, the Hartselle man has organized an interdenominational prayer vigil to coincide with the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Each year people of various races, denominations and ages gather to pray for first responders, law enforcement officers, military personnel and the victims of 9/11 and their families.

Saturday, marking the 20th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the sixth annual 9/11 Prayer Vigil took place at Hartselle First Missionary Baptist Church.

Hearring said a feeling of gratitude and thankfulness led him to originally organize the prayer vigil.

“I had family members in the towers,” Hearring said. “My brother-in-law worked on the fourth floor in a bank when the attacks happened. He was covered in debris but made it out. I also had a niece that worked on the 84th floor but didn’t go into work that day.

“The prayer vigil was a way to show thanks for my family being saved and to recognize all the families that lost someone on that devastating day.”

Since the first program, the vigil has expanded to encourage prayers for the community, educators, children and leaders. Hearring said he focused his prayers on families staying together, the United States and the end of the pandemic.

“We know prayers change things. When praises go up, blessings come down,” Hearring said. “This was a time and place we (were able to share) our love for each other and for Jesus Christ.”