Service of thanksgiving held to honor Whelan’s return to US

Manchester residents gather for the worship experience while news vans attempt to hover inconspicuously in the background. Photo by Fritz Swanson.

by Marsha Chartrand

It was a warm, sunny Thursday in Manchester when the faithful of the community gathered to give thanks and praise for the return of Paul Whelan, unlawfully detained in Russia for 5 1/2 years, to his family here in the US. His parents, Ed and Rosemary, of Manchester Township, had left for Texas to be reunited with Paul as he recovers from his long imprisonment and the many recent rapid changes in his circumstances.

Pastor Susan Hitts of Manchester United Methodist Church, along with Rev. Eugene Blair of Emanuel UCC and Rev. David Bucholz of Bethel UCC, represented the Manchester Ministerial Association, which sponsored the event to coincide with the two-week anniversary of Paul’s return from Russia. Each took a short opportunity to address the 75 or so people who had gathered at the midday ceremony.

“We’re gathered with great joy to celebrate the return, two weeks ago, of Paul Whelan,” Hitts said in her introductory remarks. “We are a community of yellow ribbons. We have prayed for Paul’s return and this ceremony represents that we don’t pray into the air, expecting nothing; we pray now, thanking God that we have been heard.”

Blair noted, “There was a time when we sent cards to others, and looked forward to receiving a card — a birthday or Christmas Card, or a note — from a favorite aunt, a grandmother … with electronics these days we have lost that art. So today we have been blessed with people who had the idea of sending a card to Paul.” He invited those who might have brought a card to bring it forward, or in days to come to deliver a card to the participating churches or the library “in thanksgiving to God and in thanks to Paul for all that he has endured.”

Bucholz added, “When tragedy strikes, there is often a huge uproar of compassion and support for the family and then our human nature takes over and that suffering and tragedy becomes our new normal and is sometimes even forgotten. Certainly in Paul’s case the community would not let him be forgotten and the fruit of that compassion is shown here today in your presence, with these beautiful cards, with the organization of this event.”

Hitts explained the “Yellow Ribbon” tradition and collected ribbons that people had been putting on their homes, trees, light poles, etc. She gathered and prayed over those faded and tattered ribbons, which will be sewn together to make a treasured piece of artwork for the Whelans to remind them of the ongoing support and love of their neighbors and friends.

Organizers of the event wish to thank the following for helping with Thursday’s event: Char and Lew Major for bringing chairs and the American flag from Emanuel; Sly Pup Productions and Jameson Eisele for live streaming and recording the event; and Christina Ford of Channel 7 News; Andres Guetierrez of Channel 62 News; and Will Jones of Channel 4 News for reporting the event in a very on-point, respectful, and thoughtful manner.

“And this is how we love our neighbors in a small town in Michigan,” Hitts concluded.

Community members sit in preparation for the service of prayer and thanksgiving. Photo by Fritz Swanson.

Rev. Susan Hitts collects ribbons from community members. Photo by Fritz Swanson.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.