Trinity Observes the Fifth Anniversary of September 11, 2001

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."

President Jones also read a list of the names of those from the Trinity community who were lost on September 11.

"I have no words, so I'm going to leave you with some names," he said. "They were read by Father Dan in the Chapel. They were read solemnly, quietly and with great dignity. They share Trinity with each one of us."

A moment of silence observing those who died was held at the end of the ceremony.

"Obviously this being the fifth anniversary [carried] with it a certain import, because it was the fifth anniversary as opposed to the last couple of years. Somehow or another the fifth anniversary brings it back into proximity. This [was] a bit of a milestone," Heischman said.

Those who attended agreed.

"I was very happy they did this," freshman Andrew Grubin said. "In Manhattan, where I'm from, they have special remembrances of September 11 each year. I'm glad they had this since this is my first year away from home, and especially since it's the fifth anniversary."

His fellow classmate was of the same opinion.

"[The ceremony] was great," Freshman Justin Nicholson said. "I think it really captured everyone's feelings. It was a great way to honor those whom Trinity lost and whom the country lost."

The Community Observance and Interfaith Ceremony was put together by Junior Andrew Pedro and his quad mates as a part of their themed housing program.

"We have been doing this sort of thing now for five years and in some ways there are still no set guidelines as to what we should be doing and what we shouldn't be doing," Heischman said. "I think the fifth anniversary brings it back to us all the more that we're really carving our paths here and we're not entirely certain what's the best way to meet the various different needs people have when it comes to September 11. We're learning as we go along and I think that is probably pretty much true for every college campus. I think on the whole the college community would say, "We've done something adequate for the occasion,' but my experience has been that the thing with 9/11 concerning the anniversaries is that people bring very, very different expectations and feelings to the day, and so it's very hard to read what the community truly needs on a day like this."

As tears were slowly wiped away as the night ended, much more remained.

"[It was] a fitting way to remember, but at the same time [we must] assure ourselves that life goes on and that we continue and that the worse thing we could do is to be immobilized by [9/11]," Heischman said. "But we've still got to remember.