Just a week after its rededication, the Ohio Stadium saw its greatest moment since the original construction in 1922, and there wasn’t a football around at the Show Your Support Telethon on Saturday.
The 101,000 strong that had donned a sea of scarlet and gray on Sept. 8 was replaced with 10,000 flag-waving Americans out to show support for victims of Tuesday’s tragedy.
The scene of the flags waving along with Ray Charles’ recording of “America the Beautiful” moved many to tears, including OSU Athletic Director Andy Geiger.
“It was hard to see through the tears,” Geiger said. “It was extremely moving, extremely important and very reassuring.”
Also attending the event were OSU President William “Brit” Kirwan, Mayor Michael Coleman and Gov. Bob Taft.
It was Kirwan who spoke first, getting a rise out of patriots with an emotional speech for a call to unity and a firm belief in the ideals of democracy.
“Our spirit is strong,” Kirwan told the crowd. “We stand united because we share the same profound beliefs in freedom, peace and democracy.”
All spoke of pride and the preservation of American ideals. Mostly it was a time for people in central Ohio to join and express grief and sympathy for those who were lost or injured in the terrorist attacks on Tuesday.
The many flags were the result of almost $600,000 raised in two hours from donations to the Red Cross. Supporters who donated $10 or more to the Red Cross were given flags and poles.
The ceremony that was named a telethon, turned into more of a rally and an outlet for people to express emotions that had been bottled up since Tuesday.
Kirwan told students it was a time to unite and rise to the occasion, and everything they do from now until the end of this affair will affect how the country rebounds.
After the event Kirwan had trouble forming words on what took place in the ‘Shoe.
“The feeling in this stadium is hard to describe,” Kirwan said. “Seeing all these people here, all those flags. . .we needed this.”`
OSU football coach Jim Tressel got the biggest ovation of the day when he stepped to the podium.
“A week ago we came out here in front of 100,000, and I wasn’t sure there could be a more glorious day in Ohio Stadium,” Tressel said. “And again central Ohio has proved us wrong. There isn’t a more glorious day in the history of this stadium.”
The ceremony ended with bag pipes playing “Amazing Grace” and then a lone man on the 50-yard line playing taps as the groups of servicemen lined up to march out.
“Each of us was changed forever,” Kirwan said. “We are one people, one nation. God bless America.”
