University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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n K m FALLEN HERO. Dwayne Williams, shown above with daughter Kelsie, left, son Tyler, his wife Tammy Cooper Williams, and in the photo at right as a young Lion, was at work in the Pentagon when terrorists destroyed part of the building, killing 189. Tragedy reverberates in Shoals; Pentagon attack claims alumnus His cilma mater honored Dvvavne Williams, other fallen military per- sonnel and all area armed forces personnel in three events November 9-10. That Friday, the Student Government Association, supported by the University Veterans ' Day Committee, conducted a Veterans ' Day program at the Memorial Amphitheatre. An honor guard from the 27th Alabama Infantr) ' fired a salute. The next day ceremonies memorializ- ing the fallen University of North Alabama alumnus soldier, and a salute to armed forces personnel past and present, took place at Wesleyan Hall and at the Lions football game at Braly Municipal Stadium. The service at Wesleyan was dedicated to the memory of U.S. Army Major Dwayne Williams (1961-2001), class of 1983, an 18-year member of the Army, a paratrooper and Ranger, who had served in the Persian Gulf War and three years in Egypt. Prior to the attack in which he perished, he had started work at the Pentagon after attending the Army Command and General War College in Kansas. U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, former UNA head football coach Wayne Grubb and former teammates, including UNA coach Steve Carter, James Gill, Loixzie McCants, Reger Curry and D. J. Thomas, spoke at the event honoring Williams, who played football for four years at UNA. FACE OF GRIEF. Mrs. Williams looks to her sister for comfort after remarks at Wesleyan (right center) and doves — symbolic of peace — are released at the close of the Wesleyan Veterans ' Day ceremony.

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FLAG FLYING. Residents of the Shoals, like others across the nation, displayed their colors on all public occasions in the weeks after the tragic events of September 11. CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, (below) In response to President George W. Bush ' s request , Grace Simpson ' s family paused at 7 p.m. September 14 in the midst of a wedding rehearsal at Coby Hall, to go out- side and light candles in remem- brance of the victims of terrorism. wrote it, and my hands shake now, nearly two months later, as I revise it for the Diorama. I am sure my hands will shake five months on, when the Diorama sees print and I read what I have written. A lot can happen in five months. If September 11 taught us anything, it is that a lot can happen in five seconds. The staff of the Diorama and The Flor-Ala, and no doubt the students, faculty and staff of the uni- versity, would like to pay their respects to those who suffered as a result of the events of that fateful Tuesday. To the passengers of Flight 93, which went down in Pennsylvania; to those unfortunate souls inside the Pentagon and the World Trade Center; to the rescue workers and bystanders who were too close to the Towers when they fell; to the passengers of the airplanes that were converted into flying bombs; to the families and friends of those individu- als; to any innocent person, of any nation, who has lost or will lose his or her life in the coming months of retaliation and necessary retribution: For what it ' s worth, we give these pages to you. — Marc Mitchell

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NIGHT ih ' s ' F V. in the night It ' s Thursday night and the weekend has unoffi- cially begun for most students. Where are they going? What are they doing? Is there anything to do in this town after 9 p.m.? Wal-Mart has perennially been a prime place to go. If you don ' t work there, you probably shop there. Late-night mayhem such as the clothespin game and moving items around the store strike many college students during the wee hours of the morning. Some say the best time to go shopping is at 2 or 3 a.m. It ' s never too late to go for a visit and there is always someone to shop with, no niatter the time. Clubs always present a party that ' s going on and people to meet. Thursday night is college night at Sports Rock in Muscle Shoals. The Club of 7 Diamonds opened this year, providing another place 10 PUMPING IRON. Jason Fuller spots Daniel Tracy as he benchpresses dumbbells in a late-night workout at Dynabody Gym in Muscle Shoals. CAMPUS ' FAMILY STORE. The 24-7 Wal-Mart Supercenter has proven a popular place to do late-night shopping. Some students hold tliird-sliift jobs as stockers.