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Staff Writer 3:21 PM Friday, June 26, 2009

DAYTON — Mary Sue Gmeiner remembers boarding a train at the old Union Terminal in Dayton and riding it all the way to Texas.

“When you ride a train, you’re seeing our country in a different way than you see it on a freeway,” says the New Carlisle woman, who recalls being in awe of the vast expanses of our country.

“There are no billboards, and there’s more camaraderie — people talk to one another.”

She’s hoping to ensure that future generations will have that same experience.

Gmeiner is a member of the Creation Connection team that’s busily planning the 13th annual Descendants Day celebration slated for Sunday, June 28. The interfaith gathering is open to the public and includes an ecumenical prayer service, education, music and a picnic.

“It’s a networking event for people who care about God’s creations,” she explains. The organizing committee is the environmental justice ministry of Greater Dayton Christian Connections.

The theme changes each year as does the location. In the past, for example, the group has studied and prayed over urban green space at Deeds Park, and focused on the preservation of woodlands at Woodland Cemetery.

“We were only given one earth,” Gmeiner says. “God entrusted it to us and expects us to care for it.”

This year’s theme is “Transportation for Urban Residents.” The event is being held at Chaminade Julienne High School because of its proximity to the old Union Terminal.

Education will focus on:

• The negative consequences of our current transportation on the environment and urban residents, especially the poor.

• Dayton’s transportation history — primarily trolleys and trains.

• Current efforts to influence the future, such as the 3-C corridor, which could connect Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus by train, and a trolley revival.

Speakers will include Dr. Andrew Park of United Theological Seminary and Jim Wellman of All Aboard Ohio.

Gmeiner says members of a variety of religions have attended in the past and are always welcome.

“It’s important for people to remember that we are not the last generation,” she emphasizes. “Other generations come after us, and so the way that we treat the earth and resources impact those future generations.”

Descendants Day is observed nationally on the last Sunday of June each year with an overall theme of “Love Thy Neighbor Through Time.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or mmoss@Dayton DailyNews.com.