The Tripod

Issue date: 9/12/06 Section: Features

Media Credit: Sam Lin

As night settled on the fifth anniversary of September 11, all that visibly remained were candles surrounding the Cave Patio. However, there was a sense of remembrance lingering in the air for all that happened that fateful day five years ago.

As President James F. Jones, Jr. put it, "In a very real sense, the world we inhabit changed on 9/11. And as we commemorate those whose lives ended tragically on that infamous day, we all need reminding of the seriousness of the issues that begat such a horror for us all."

The day began at Trinity with an 8:30 a.m. Roman Catholic Mass in the Chapel with Father Michael Dolan. The service was very serene and holy, and included a special prayer for those who perished in the Twin Towers, Pentagon and Pennsylvania fields.

At noon, ecumenical prayers were held with College Chaplain Dan Heischman and Terry Moran of the Catholic Campus Ministry.

"We wanted to offer something around noon time for some people in the community, particularly staff and faculty, who [could not] make the 7 p.m. time," Heischman said.

The 7 p.m. Community Observance and Interfaith Ceremony of September 11 was the culminating event of the day.

"This is a continuation of something that we have had for four years which is a kind of community remembrance ceremony," Heischman said.

The service included students reading from Jewish, Christian and Muslim texts.

"I was asked to speak by the Muslim Chaplain, and I felt I would be representing my community and faith," freshman Hina Afzal, who read from the Koran, said. "It was also important to me because I grew up in New York and I witnessed what happened. New York hasn't been the same since."

Frederick Alford, Dean of Students, was a speaker as well.

"I think we'll all remember all our lives where we were when we first heard [of the events of that day]. I was driving to Boston, and I don't think I'll ever forget the day," Alford said. "My own learning thus far has really been a renewed kind of faith in the resilience of the human spirit. The second lesson I've learned is perhaps a little bit of humility. I've been humbled by my own vulnerabilities. Not just recognizing my vulnerability to terror and forces greater that are outside of myself, but to my own weaknesses."

After Alford's speech, President Jimmy Jones spoke.

"I've been thinking the last several days what on earth to say," he said. "Every anniversary of 9/11 I find that I cannot ever find the right words and I think that's because the words will always fail us."

Continued...

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