Sunday morning, September
4, 2005, I arrived in Maryville, Tennessee at
approximately 7:15am, at which time I promptly set up a
vigil in the traffic island on the corner of Lamar
Alexander Parkway and Broadway Street; the exact same
location provided for me by the Maryville police earlier
in the week.
I remained there, and I
must interject in a somewhat carnival type atmosphere as
the people expressed their pleasure in seeing me in my
uniform and the Christian Cross of Saint Andrew flying
briskly, until approximately 10:50am, at which time I
began to make my way to church. I must truthfully say
that by this time I had abandonded the original plan to
attend either ST.Paul or St.Johns; the traditional Black
churches; for as I had sat there all morning looking at
New Providence Presbyterian Church reminiscing on the
events that had transpired earlier in the week, when
their Associate pastor not only spoke to me in a tone
and language unbecoming a man of his station, but had
also communicated a threat to physically remove me from
the public easement that abutted the church property. I
surely had to attend their church service.
As if by some divine
providence, as I drove my van out of the parking lot,
sitting right in front of me was Saint Paul African
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. I agonized for what
seemed an eternity on whether to head to New Providence
or St.Paul. I wanted so much to go and look and look the
congregation of New Providence in the eye so that I
might know what kind of place would employ a man of the
cloth who had spoken to me in such a vulgar way. As I
wave at some of the parishioners of ST.Paul, I decided
on the latter and reluctantly made my way across the
street to ST.Paul, where I was received with great honor
by the Pastor Rev. Wila Estell and congregation, and
asked to please come again to visit with them.
I found it ironic that the
Black congregation in Maryville would open their arms to
me on this morning as they watched intently as I sat
waving my flag, and would wave to me as they would drive
by again, for I had returned to my spot on the island
after church, only a stones throw away; and all the
white minister had for me was vulgarities and threats of
violence.
It is important to note
that I had lunch with Brian and Lisa Thomas and son
Cameron shortly before I was to leave Maryville. This is
important because they would tell me the same story that
many people who visited with me : the Knoxville Centinel
had delivered newspapers to almost every citizen on
August 8, 2005 in Maryville, even those who had no
subscription to it. On this particular Sunday the paper
carried a story that would slander Mr.Kirk D.Lyons and
myself, one that we would influence the school board to
make an unfavorable decision against the flag in
Maryville and certainly tarnish my image with the black
citizens there as we worked so hard to effectuate a step
to peace.
I would also be visited by
the only school board member to vote against banning the
flag. He would speak so reverently about the wrong of
tampering with the 1st amendment rights violated by
this ban and how it would open the door to more
injustices.
HK Contacts at the New Providence
Presbyterian Church, Note Emily is the Pastor
Call or e-mail the staff at the Church and ask why
Associate Pastor Steve Musick would apparently act in
this kind of manner?
865 - 983-0182