It began with the American national anthem.
But as the final notes of "The Star-Spangled Banner" faded across Turlington Plaza, two different flags appeared on the sides.
As the national flags of France and Lebanon were held, excerpts from the countries’ national anthems were read aloud.
A crowd of about 100 students listened, cradling candles as they held back tears.
In light of a series of terrorist attacks that ravaged Paris and Beirut, UF Student Government hosted a ceremony Monday to mourn the victims of the bombings and gunfire that killed approximately 172 people Thursday and Friday.
But even as they stood, symbolizing peace and solidarity, the realities of the situation lingered.
While Georges Akiki, 29, read his country’s anthem in Arabic, a University Police officer and his police dog, Boomer, stood at attention. Before the event, Boomer sniffed around Turlington for explosive devices or any other suspicious activity.
It was a measure Courtnie Moodie, the SG director of community involvement and service, requested after she said she received suspicious messages on the event’s Facebook page that made her nervous. She declined to specify what the comments were.
Even with the police presence, it was only in the final moments before the vigil Moodie decided to allow the UF mechanical engineering doctoral student to speak in Arabic.
She was worried for his safety, she said.
Akiki was just happy SG included Beirut in its memorial service. Many in attendance had heard of the Paris attacks before those in Beirut, despite the latter happening a day prior.
"I’m glad they recognized both... and show people again that it’s not just another story out of the Middle East; people did lose their lives," Akiki said. "For some reason, when destruction and murder become regular, it becomes a statistic and not an event."
Leonardo Villalón, the dean of UF’s International Center, told the crowd the only way to combat hatred and terror propagated by extremist groups like the Islamic State Group is to stand together.
"I have to say that I find myself at a loss trying to understand some of the events we’re living in, including the ones we’re commemorating today," Villalón said. "As hard as they are to understand, they’re a reality of our world, and they are a reality of the challenges that we face and that we’re gonna continue to face."
As Rima Chakhtoura held the red, white and green flag of her people, she tried not to cry. She still remembers the beautiful summers she would spend in Lebanon, her home country.
"It would be a lot more beautiful if everybody just left it alone and let us have our peace," she said.
As the wind began to blow, candle flames began to extinguish as the ceremony drew to a close.
While the crowd dispersed, many stopped to scribble words of encouragement on a white banner draped over a concrete table on the plaza.
In the middle, scrawled in black Sharpie, there was a single French phrase.
"Paix Mondiale," the words read — world peace.
Contact Martin Vassolo at mvassolo@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @martindvassolo
Leonardo Villalon, Dean of UF’s International Center, speaks at the vigil. He said the only antidote to terror is coming together in solidarity despite cultural and religious differences.
Dave Kratzer, UF’s vice president for student affairs, speaks during the vigil. Hopefully one day people will be able to explain the horrific events that occurred, he said.
Timothee Deschamps, a UF political science exchange student from France, and UF business administration sophomore Heather Ryan, both 19, write notes of support on a solidarity banner during the vigil for Paris and Beirut on Turlington Plaza on Nov. 16, 2015. Deschamps ended his message with "Go liberty, go Paris, go life," in French.
Rima Chakhtoura, a 19-year-old UF unified early childhood education senior and a member of the Lebanese American Society at UF, signs a “World Peace” banner Nov. 16, 2015, to honor those affected by terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut.
About 100 people hold candles at a vigil Nov. 16, 2015, for the victims of terrorist attacks in Beirut and Paris that occurred Nov. 12 and 13, respectively. Excerpts from the national anthems of France and Lebanon were read as they stood to show solidarity with the approximately 172 people killed.
“World Peace” written in French was among the dozens of sentiments scattered across the banner provided that allowed students to express their condolences and encouragement in light of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut.
