A Ceremony of Remembrance

By Amy Szablak

Published in Stonehill College's Newspaper, The Summit

Two hijacked planes turned a normal September day into a day filled with smoke, confusion, and fear.

Thirteen years later, a flag was lowered at Stonehill College in honor of the victims of the September 11^th attacks.

The Catholic college held a religious assembly on the 13^th anniversary of the terrorist attack. The ceremony took place in front of Donahue Hall, a historic building on campus.

A small crowd gathered to pay their respects to those who lost their lives that day. Stonehill students, staff, ministers, police officers, and a member of the U.S. Army in his uniform attended.

This event almost didn't happen, though. The college's Campus Ministry did not initially have the event on their calendar.

“We figured our event for the 10^th anniversary would be the last,” said Dan Davey of the Office of Campus Ministry, “but students approached Campus Ministry to keep the service going.”

Campus Ministry agreed to make the 9/11 service an annual event. It consisted of prayers and moments of silence.

Davey was one of three ministers who led prayers throughout the service. The prayers said to “bring peace, not war, wherever we go,” and to not have vengeance about the attacks.

There was complete silence amongst the crowd. Those who attended bowed their heads and removed their caps during the prayers and moments of silence.

One moment of silence was to remember the victims who were a part of the Stonehill community.

“It is important to be there for our friends, family, and the Stonehill community,” said Stonehill junior Laura Aramini.

Aramini attended the ceremony, and was disappointed with the small crowd.

“I wish more people had gone to the 9/11 prayer service,” she said.

The service was at 12:30 p.m. and there was about forty people there. Sarah Fontaine of the Office of Campus Ministry believed that the crowd was so small because of scheduling issues.

“It is a busy time of the day,” Fontaine said, “a lot of students are in class.”

The event concluded at 12:45 with a final prayer. The crowd joined hands and recited the Catholic “Our Father” prayer.

Few people stayed to talk amongst each other. Aramini stayed to talk to other students.

“It is our duty as Americans and community members to acknowledge this tragedy in some way,” Aramini said.

Stonehill College plans to keep the service an annual event.

“As time passes, people move on in different ways,” said Davey, “there is a group of people who are still impacted.”