Celebrating sacrifices of foot soldiers

Published 8:00 pm Saturday, March 5, 2011

We are in the midst of the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee, an event honoring and remembering the brave men and women who stared down the batons of state troopers to further petition for their civil rights.

Today, thousands will join together to march across the symbol, known the world over, as the center for Bloody Sunday, the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Today, thousands will take a moment to put themselves in the footsteps of the valiant foot soldiers who, with each step, fought for a stronger democracy, a democracy that represented everyone equally.

With all the speeches, books and letters that have been written about the events of March 7, 1965, we felt one should be reprinted here today. It was given by Rev. Maurice Ouellet, S.S.E., then of St. Elizabeth’s Church after the tragic and historic event:

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“I saw the face of the uncomfortable Christ, that of a boy beaten, scarred internally by the fist of man’s hate.

I saw the sad eyes of the uncomfortable Christ, those of a man filled with the frustration of despair for himself and his children.

I saw the tears of the uncomfortable Christ, those of parents panicked by fear for their children.

I heard the cries of the uncomfortable Christ, those of a people jeered at, bruised, gassed, in pain.

I wiped from my cheek the blood of Christ, that of a little girl, His blood, her blood, as it poured from the side of her head cradled on my shoulder.

Here was the uncomfortable Christ. The Christ of today as he ever was, And certainly as he exists all around us.”

God bless those who did what was tough, but needed. God bless those who stood up to make our country better. Today, we thank you once again.