Sikh Religious Society of Palatine holds interfaith vigil
Submitted by Sikh Religious Society of Palatine
The children of Gurmat School (Sunday school) of Sikh Religious Society of Palatine Illinois held an Interfaith prayer and Candlelight Vigil Dec. 14 in observance of the one year anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Conn., where 20 first-grade children and six adults were killed in 2012.
“The vigil was organized to show solidarity with American families against senseless violence, and to honor the little angels, 6- to 7-year-old schoolchildren, and heroes, the teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary,” said Rajinder Singh Mago, one of the event coordinators.
Despite snow and bitter cold weather, more than 300 community members, neighbors, interfaith leaders, and government officials or their representatives congregated in the Palatine Gurdwara.
Keertan (singing of hymns) was performed by children from Wheaton Gurdwara and Palatine Gurdwara, and Mrs. Kanchan Lal, Bhai Mohinder Singh and Bhai Gurjant Singh’s Raagi Jathas (hymn singing groups).
A special prayer “Ardaas” was supplicated by Bhai Gurjant Singh, head granthi of Palatine Gurdwara. Retired Lt. Brian Murphy, the first responder to the Oak Creek Wisconsin Sikh Temple shootings on Aug. 5, 2012, who took 15 bullets, one through his voice box, was a special guest speaker.
He was honored with a public service and bravery award plaque by SRS President Sokhi Singh and other SRS board members. He was also given a head wear of honor (SiroPao) by Bhai Gurjant Singh and a gift check by the SRS board on behalf of the community.
The program at the Gurdwara congregation hall was conducted by Amrith Kaur Aakre, assistant state’s attorney for Cook County. The speakers who paid tribute to the victims included Kulwant Singh Hundal; Dr. Balwant Singh Hansra; Laddi Kaur Singh; Matt Flamm; Marty Castro, chairman of the Illinois Human Rights Commission, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s office; Tom Choi, Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka’s public affairs manager; Pastor Jeffrey of Church of Christ; Dr. Mary Nelson, executive director of Council for a Parliament of World’s Religions; Lt. Murphy; SRS President Sokhi Singh; and Steve Kim, candidate for Illinois Lt. Governor, running mate of Dan Rutherford for Governor.
After the prayers and tributes the whole congregation and guests assembled in the langar hall where candlelight vigil ceremony was held indoors due to snow and cold weather outside.
Maneshwar Singh, a community youth and Loyola University student, conducted the proceedings, a moment of silence was held. Twenty-six Sunday school children walked in one by one, announcing the names of one of the 26 killed in the shootings at Sandy Hook.
The pictures of each were projected on two large screens while the candles were being lit for them.
“It was a beautiful ceremony and it is wonderful what you as a community were able to do for Lt. Brian Murphy,” said Megan Nakano, president of Japanese American Citizens League and chairwoman of Asian-American Coalition of Chicago, who participated in the vigil.
The whole assembly shared langar (community kitchen vegetarian meal) and indulged in fellowship with conversations about what could be done to avoid such tragedies in the future. Gun control, background checks, mental health issues, violent video games were all discussed.
The event was coordinated by Sarwan Singh Raju, Amardev Singh, Jasvir Kaur, Birender Singh, many teachers and volunteers of the SRS Sunday school, and Rajinder Singh Mago.
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