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GREG TRAVIS / Ledger & Times
(Top photo) Gail Minger, mother of Michael Minger who died in a Sept. 18, 1998, fire at Murray State University’s Hester College, speaks to a group gathered Thursday afternoon at a memorial service in front of the dormitory. A sitting area was dedicated near the entrance to the facility. (Bottom photo) Gail Minger looks at photographs with Dr. Don Robertson, MSU’s vice president of student affairs, following Thursday afternoon’s memorial dedication. |
Area dedicated to Hester fire victim
By GREG TRAVIS
Staff Writer
A sitting area was dedicated Thursday at Murray State University's Hester College in remembrance of Michael Minger, 19, who died in a fire at the dormitory nearly 10 years ago.
Minger was a sophomore music major from Niceville, Fla., at the time of the incident, which occurred Sept. 18, 1998.
The memorial area, at the southwest corner of the entrance to the dormitory, includes a plaque, a black bench, a flowering magnolia tree and mums surrounding by a landscaped walkway.
Gail Minger, Michael's mother, told a group assembled at the site that she had wanted a bench and a memorial area for some time, and she thanked MSU officials for their efforts in establishing the area.
Reciting and commenting on two quotes inscribed on the bench, Minger explained that one of the last books Michael read was Mitch Albom's “Tuesdays With Morrie.”
She said a phrase from the book had caught his attention. She commented that, at first, she didn't understand the phrase, “When you learn how to die, you learn how to live,” but she added, “He walked me through it, and I got it.”
“Eight weeks later,” she recalled, “Michael died.”
The other quote, she explained, comes from the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington. It reads, “Thou shalt not be a victim. Thou shalt not be a perpetrator. Above all thou shalt not be a bystander.”
She said, “There was a time here, and every other place in the world, where we have all been bystanders. I hope students using this memorial site will stop, think and heed these words and their meaning - and they will take them with them.”
Gail Minger, who has become an advocate for university fire safety, commented that she hopes the words will “provoke thinking, provoke questioning and provoke understanding” among the local students.
She was accompanied at the dedication by her husband, John. Others in attendance included MSU President Dr. Randy Dunn, faculty, staff, students and Murray firefighter Johnnie Yarbrough, who Minger introduced to others after the ceremony as the one “who carried Michael” out of the Hester fire.
“The university was honored to be a part of assisting the Minger family in putting this memorial service together,” Dunn said. “The bench will provide a nice opportunity for students to sit and contemplate the words that are inscribed on it.”
An opening and closing prayer was offered by Rev. Matthew Bradley, minister at the St. John's Episcopal Church, where Michael Minger attended.
According to reports at the time, Minger's death was attributed to smoke inhalation. A lawsuit was later brought by Minger's mother alleging that MSU had violated the Americans With Disabilities Act. That suit was eventually settled, it was reported.
Story created Sep 05, 2008 - 11:21:00 EDT.
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