The Unitarian Universalist Congregation invites the New River Valley community to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the downing of United Airlines Flight 93. The event takes place Sept. 11 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the UUC Meeting House at 1301 Gladewood Drive in Blacksburg.

In the spirit of the new interfaith movement, “Standing On the Side of Love,” all faiths are invited to gather and engage in a public reading of portions of the Qur’an. Representatives from the local Islamic community will read verses in Arabic, followed by an English translation. Guests are also invited to read from this scripture as they wish to do so.

An English translation of the earliest scriptures will be available. During this reading there will be a pause to remember the lives that were lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and the countless lives that have been lost in the wars and the violence that followed.

You may have heard reports that a congregation in Florida is planning to burn copies of the Qur’an on  Sept. 11. The UUC believes such actions will only fan the hatred that is the terrible legacy of that tragic day. Such intolerance can push faith communities farther apart and deepen the pain that many feel as harsh and divisive rhetoric continues to flow. The UUC wishes to reach out to other faith communities and people of good will who share a vision for peace and acceptance among the differing faiths that share our life here in the New River Valley.