See You at the Pole still strong in state

Thousands of young people in Alabama joined students in more than 20 countries as they united in prayer Sept. 18 during the 12th annual See You at the Pole.
   
This student-led event is a public statement by youth who wish to show their outward support and faith in God by unifying their prayers as a nondenomination group of Christians. It is held on the third Wednesday in September each year.
   
More than 35,000 Alabama youth were estimated to have met around their schools’ flagpoles an hour before their school day began.
   
The origin of this location dates back to the first event in 1990 that was started by a group of concerned youth in Burleson, Texas, who wanted to gather at their high schools to pray. Needing a logical and easy location for all participants to gather, their solution was the school flagpole —  the rationale being that all schools have flagpoles located on campus.
   
For Homewood High School Junior Laura Smith, the annual See You at the Pole experience is one she looks forward to every year. The Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, member said the group of young people made a circle around the school flagpole and prayed while holding hands. “It’s a neat experience I really look forward to every year,” she said.
   
See You at the Pole is sponsored by First Priority, an organization that helps establish Christian clubs on public school campuses, allowing Christian students a time for fellowship once a week before school begins. “These kids take their faith seriously,” said Greg Davis, executive director of First Priority in Alabama. (TAB)