IU Southeast remembers lives lost; ‘Box 5-5-5' honors lost firefighters

By Kathy Sears

Bowyer spoke at the Sept. 20 candlelight vigil organized by the Student Ambassadors at IU Southeast. An Air Force ROTC Color Guard made a processional. In addition to Bowyer, IU Southeast’s Campus Minister Glenn Wallace spoke and said a prayer.

The vigil was one of numerous responses the campus made in regard to the attack on America. Separate prayer vigils were organized by the Student Government Association and Christian Student Fellowship. IU Southeast’s administration placed a special wreath made of white silk carnations on a grassy knoll near the flags, which flew at half-staff during the national mourning period.

The Volunteer Center in Campus Life and the Red Cross held a two-day blood drive, where long lines of individuals waited more than two hours to donate blood. Patriotic ribbons were sold to raise money for the Red Cross’s relief efforts.

To help everyone understand why the attack happened and what the United States government’s plan of action should be, a panel of political science faculty held a Forum on Terrorism.

Under the auspices of Partners for Peace, Marcia Segal, associate vice chancellor, and Jean Abshire, assistant professor of political science, hosted an interactive video conference with three Jerusalem women each representing Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths.

Accompanied by his colleagues at Engine Company 4 during the candlelight vigil, Bowyer told of how the loss of New York firefighters has burned an indelible scar on every firefighter in the nation. Bowyer knew two FDNY firefighters who taught his company at the Indiana State Fire School.

“It has hit home now,” Bowyer said. “I can put faces and personalities with this tragedy.”

Following his talk, Bowyer gave instruction for the 5-5-5 signal to be sounded by the fire engine. “In the fire service, signals by bells have been tradition for years to transmit messages for firefighters. The signal “box 5-5-5” signifies that a firefighter is not returning home from an alarm.

“He has answered his last alarm.

“Box 5-5-5 will now be struck for all of our fallen brothers and sisters that will not be returning home in New York City.”