Katrina observance to mark anniversary

BILOXI, Miss. – Hundreds of events are planned to mark next week’s one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, but only one attempts to involve the entire Gulf Coast from one end to the other.

South Mississippians are being urged to join Hands Across the Coast at 3 p.m. Sunday to support one another on the anniversary of the fierce hurricane that left many homeless.

Harold Roberts, rector of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Biloxi, came up with the idea for the observance, perhaps the only one of its kind to mark the anniversary.

Roberts recalled that the Episcopal clergy had been talking about what to do for the anniversary, “And no one had come up with an idea everyone could participate in.”

He said his idea may have been inspired by Hands Across America, which 20 years ago brought together 5 million Americans to raise money to fight hunger and homelessness.

“We’ve just printed out the (one-page) brochure or forwarded it to anyone we could think of,” asking them to forward it along, Roberts said.

Participation in the observance requires only that residents, visitors and volunteers stop what they’re doing and walk or drive to the nearest patch of Gulf Coast beach about 2:30 p.m. Sunday. For two minutes, beginning at 3 p.m., everyone at each location will join hands in a single line along the beach, “to mourn, to give thanks, to be there with one another.

“One of the real critical issues (since Katrina) is depression,” Roberts said. “It’s a natural part of the grieving process,” but it can make people feel isolated, and the hope is that the observance will bring them together.

“Honestly, I’m just going to be where I am,” Roberts said when we asked if he would be traveling the length and breadth to see the lineup. “I guess to really see it, you’d need a helicopter.”

He said he watches the weather every day. “I think if we can get past this first anniversary without a major hurricane threat, we’ll be OK.”