I have enjoyed a recent opportunity to look through several archival files new to me. I have learned much and will share some of it through this newsletter format. To begin with, I discovered what appears to be all the material related to a wonderful sermon given by Rev. Nick Cardell on October 12, 1997. Entitled Judas By Proxy, in it Nick talks about the School of Assassins (SOA) at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and the terrible toll visited on people in many Latin American countries by graduates of that school. He mentions both Father Roy Bourgeois, who organized the SOA Watch in 1990, an annual vigil outside the Ft. Benning gates, and Syracuse’s own Ed Kinane. Both Father Roy and Ed had been arrested and subsequently jailed for crossing those gates. The church was honored to award the Samuel J. May Citation for Community Action to Ed in 1997. In addition, Father Bourgeois was our Sam May Day speaker April 1, 2007. You can read Nick’s sermon at http://history.mmuus.org/judasbyproxy.pdf
His words were an almost eerie precursor to what followed. At some point during that service Nick said one way we could use our “response-ability” in closing the SOA was to join him, Dan Sage, Doris Sage, and Ann Tiffany at Ft. Benning on November 13-16, 1997. Many will know that subsequently they all crossed through those gates, were arrested, and eventually served several months in jail because of their convictions. Such courage so epitomizes what May Memorial membership means. For those who never saw it, I encourage you to read Nick’s Notes from Camp Allenwood at this web site: http://www.uuworld.org/1999/0799feat3.html
The second set of files pertains to Rev. Ron Clark who served this church as Associate Minister from 1968-1971. Ron is remembered fondly for the many innovative programs he brought to our Religious Education program. Ron went on to be a minister at two other Unitarian churches and worked several years with the UUA. Sadly, Rev. Clark died nearly two years ago at the age of 70. Here is a site that provides more information, some photos of Ron and his family, and a link to one of his sermons: http://history.mmuus.org/ronclark.html
I end on a personal note of gratitude to the many readers of this column during the past two plus years who have mentioned how much they appreciate it and learn about our church’s marvelous history. I truly enjoy writing these articles and have to come to appreciate even more this church I love. I feel so proud to be a member. Here is a reminder that you can read past newsletter articles in an online archival repository: http://history.mmuus.org/newsletterarchives.pdf
Rog Hiemstra, Chair, History Committee
Written June 1, 2008
