Tulsa's ORU Pays Tribute To 9/11 Responders

Emory Bryan, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Oral Roberts University paid tribute to first responders in a chapel service recognizing their service after 9/11.

Members of the Tulsa Fire Department, Tulsa Police Department, EMSA and Oklahoma Highway Patrol were among those at the service.

A near capacity crowd filled Christ Chapel on the ORU campus for the tribute Friday morning.

"Courage and honor do not slaughter innocence in the name of fanatical ideas. That is not courage, that is cowardice," said Mark Rutland, ORU President.

The university chose to honor the first responders both with praise and with a cash award. But, each of the five first responders who were honored gave their $500 checks to charity.

"When I got here I was flabbergasted at the amount of response we got from the student body and the citizens here honoring us, it means a whole lot," said Captain Scotty Stokes, Tulsa Fire Department.

The patriotic service was part of the regular Friday chapel service on the ORU campus.

"Folks that were doing their jobs just like we do here at home died in the line of duty and that's difficult to think about someone was just doing their job and lost their life doing what they do best," said Chris Stevens, EMSA.

The patriotic tribute was a perfect fit for the university, according to President Rutland, who is trying to teach students the importance of courage.

"These are people who go into the catastrophes and the disasters and they climb in when we're climbing out. And that kind of courage ought to be honored," Rutland said.

Learn More About The Individuals Honored