BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer
GARY BILBAO The Rev. Richard Nichols from St. John’s Methodist Church in Hazlet leads local residents in prayer for tsunami victims at Friday’s vigil in Hazlet’s Veterans Park. HAZLET — With over 150,000 people perishing from the tsunami disaster in South Asia, it’s difficult for people in this country to comprehend just how bad things are in that area of the world. For a group of Hazlet residents, Friday night was their time to reflect on what has happened and pray for the victims and their families.
“I was watching coverage of the tsunamis right around the new year, and it looked very rough. It’s awful what those people are going through right now, and so I thought it would be good if we could do a little something to express how bad we’re all feeling about it,” Hazlet Mayor Paul Coughlin said. “It’s a time to come together and reflect on the events that have taken place over in that part of the world.”
About 100 people turned out for a candlelight vigil at Veterans Park. While happy with the turnout, Coughlin said that he was hoping it would be even bigger.
“It was short notice for the event and it was early in the evening as well, but still I am glad that we were able to get this event together, and people were still able to come out,” Coughlin said. “It was a pretty somber mood but I think it was good that we were all able to come together for one night.”
Over the course of the event, residents took the time to listen to the music of Maggie Ruane, a township resident who sang a rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
“When she [Ruane] started singing that song, everybody started to join in with her,” said Patti Dickens, who helped organize the vigil. “The whole event just really showed how close-knit our town is and how much we all care about what is going on around us, not only in our community but throughout the world.”
In addition to singing, the Rev. Richard Nichols of St. John’s Methodist Church in Hazlet led the group in prayer.
“There was even one prayer that he [Nichols] knew of that the people in South Asia have been reciting that had to do with tsunamis. He really came prepared to the vigil, and it was very appreciated that he came out,” Dickens said. “It was a very emotional night for everybody that attended.”
Coughlin also said that plans are in the works to make a donation to the ongoing relief efforts on behalf of Hazlet.