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<!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Our Hearts Are Broken, Our Spirits Are Strong, Our
Faith Is Triumphant</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p><i>“Knee-bone, knee-bone, knee-bone….”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left; "><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="MsoNormal">In
the completely black darkness of the night and early morning, </div><div class="MsoNormal">in the deep
recesses of moss-laden oak trees, </div><div class="MsoNormal">ponds and lagoons where our ancestors toiled
for generations, </div><div class="MsoNormal">we drop down - our knees to the cold floor - </div><div class="MsoNormal">and we seek
understanding, </div><div class="MsoNormal">we seek solace, </div><div class="MsoNormal">we seek a way out of this “no-way”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Our sobbing voices utter unspoken
prayers </div><div class="MsoNormal">as we gather in supplication </div><div class="MsoNormal">to the spirits that have brought us this
far by faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Our
hearts are broken, but we know comfort is there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Our
spirits are strong because we know guidance is there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Our
faith is triumphant because we know our beloved community is here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i>“Knee-bone, knee-bone, knee-bone, Oh my Lord.”</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- J. Herman Blake</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Johns Island, South Carolina</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>June 18<sup>th</sup>, 2015</p>
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