Document text
Prayers go out for hostages Crowd asks comfort for captives, families By Melissa Martin GOLD HILL � Candlelight danced against the night sky as 200 people huddled together in the city park to remember three Gold Hill men being held hostage in South America. Cub Scouts, firefighters and motorcyclists were among the crowd gathered Thursday to support the families of Steve Derry, Arnold Alford and Jason Weber. The three Erickson Air-Crane employees were among 10 oil workers kidnapped at gunpoint last Thursday in Ecuador. "They are coming back," said Sue McAbee, who works in the field maintenance office at Erickson Air-Crane. "We�ve been having prayer meetings every day at work." Erickson employee Mona Wagoner said tensions are running high at the Central Point company that builds and operates heavy-lift helicopters that are dispatched around the world, along with pilots and mechanics. "This past week has been unreal," she said. An estimated 50 of the company�s 400 employees attended the candlelight vigil. After a prayer by a local minister, each one in the crowd bent a candle wick to the next person until all candles were lit. Then in silence, hands were raised heavenward. "These guys deserve nothing less," said Steve Riggs, who works in plant maintenance at Erickson. "We hope they come back tomorrow � today." Katherine Tillotson of Central Point arrived on a Harley Davidson as a member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association that rolled into town to show support for the hostages� families. "This is a scary thing," Tillotson said. "There�s not a lot we can do � but we can pray that the hostages return safe, unscathed and unharmed. I believe the more prayer there is, we make a louder noise to God and He will hear." The candle bearers included Den Master Jim Brimble, who brought boys from Gold Hill Cub Scout Pack 43 and firefighters from Jackson County Fire District 3, who came in uniform to show support. "We don�t understand why these men are being held hostage," said firefighter Jim Thompson. "It�s not an easy thing." The Rev. Jack Cornell of Gold Hill United Methodist Church told the audience their candles symbolized hope penetrating fear�s darkness. Then he prayed for the hostages� release, for the softening of the hearts of their captors and for wisdom for government agencies seeking their release. "Place a protective shield around Steve, Arnold and Jason so that they won�t be harmed," he prayed. "Keep the hearts of their families calm, and when they feel alone, move to their side so they can feel your arms around them." After the vigil ended and candles were extinguished, 10-year-old Jairicka Pappe lingered with her family and friends. "I came tonight because my best friend came to school last week and was hurting. We had no clue why until we heard the news and found out the trouble," Pappe said. "We wanted to help, and we�ve tried to cheer her up." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.