In response to last week’s tragedy, free buttons, bearing phrases such as “God Bless America” and “United We Stand,” and memory boards for signing are available for the Eastern community.

The buttons and boards, sponsored by the union, will be out from roughly 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today under the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union walkway.

The boards will be sent to New York and Washington D.C.

“We’re distributing buttons as well as large cards that people can sign to express how they feel about the tragedy,” said Ted Hart, director of the union. “We thought this would be a good way for students to show their support for what’s happened.”

The buttons and boards were available for a few hours on Friday, and volunteers at the table saw quite a bit of traffic.

Sarah Ward, a junior speech communication major and volunteer at the table on Friday, said the purpose of the cards is to let the people of Washington and New York know they are in this community’s thoughts and prayers.

“We’ve been making buttons tirelessly all day,” she said. “People have been picking them up like crazy.”

Messages students, faculty and staff left on the cards expressed an array of feelings and promises to be in prayer.

“Pray. Remember. Hope. Love. The students of EIU support you,” read one message. “Let God comfort you. You are in our prayers here in Illinois,” read another.

Nay Wright, a sophomore pre-marketing major, said he came to sign the card because this is his country, and he cares about what happened.

“It’s been on my mind. I try to encourage people,” he said.

His message read, “God is always there, no matter what we’re going through. Keep praying. We will win this battle.”

Student volunteers are needed to man the table and make buttons today.

Those interested can walk up to the table and offer their help.