I vividly remember my father coming into our home that Sunday evening in a very somber and despondent mood. He normally was very upbeat, an optimist always trying to find the silver lining even in the darkest of clouds. This day he was uncontrollably shaken. He and my mother spoke in hushed tones behind a closed door to their bedroom. I heard my father raise his voice, �We�ll blow up every white establishment in town.� My mother�s calming voice shot back, �But, Edward, that will not bring those little girls back. Violence only breeds violence, we must conquer this thing with love.�

To this day, I am shaken when I thing about this event in our history. The two of dearest things that Jesus Christ cherished on this earth, the church and children, were attacked that day in an act of cowardice born out of racism and bigotry. Unfortunately, we still face these same challenges today.

Let us not forget the name of Denise McNair, Carol Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, and Addie Mae Collins. A reading of the �Ballad of Birmingham,� which symbolized one mother�s pain, brought this fateful day back to my remembrance. Just as Martin, Meager, and Malcolm, the names of these young heroes must always be remembered.