Faith leaders, elected officials, and residents from across the Wyoming
Valley sang hymns and united in prayer in observance of the 10th anniversary
of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The ceremony was held at the First
Presbyterian Church in Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. Mahmoud Fahmy read the opening of the Quran in Arabic. Others
recited Christian and Jewish scripture. The Rev. Phil Altivilla of St.
Peter"s Cathedral in Scranton offered words of inspiration in his speech,
"From Tragedy to Hope."
Many communities are holding memorial events to
mark this 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. These are
emotional and heartfelt events, made more special by the inspiring
presence of individuals directly affected on that day of tragedy. It is
fitting to hold a service in a place of worship, for the strength of
faith carried many through that dark day and the uncertain times that
followed.
On this day, there are so many worth
remembering. Those who died on the four hijacked aircraft. Those
killed on the ground as a result of the deliberate crashes. Those who
survived, but lost family, friends, co-workers. Those who courageously
responded in the face of extreme peril. Those who have served in
Afghanistan and Iraq, conflicts resulting from the terrorist attacks.
Those among the community leaders and the clergy who helped in the
healing process, with their messages of faith, love, and tolerance.
"Never forget" is a powerful phrase. We do have
a solemn obligation to recall everything about 9/11 – the hatred behind
the attacks, the quality and character of the nearly 3,000 who died that
day, the courage of those who responded to an unimaginable emergency
that turned catastrophic, the heartbreak of families and communities who
never had a chance to say goodbye to precious loved ones, the sad
circumstance of young children suddenly deprived of a parent.
There is an especially touching story that
illustrates the significance of remembering. Jeremy Glick, one of the
heroes on Flight 93, left behind an infant daughter. She has grown up
hearing stories about her father. This year, her fourth grade class was
assigned a project called My Hero. Because of what Jeremy Glick and the
other passengers did that fateful day, because of what she has learned
about him, she named her father as her hero.
The victims of 9/11 were heroes. So were the
responders. So were those who contributed to recovery efforts. But
there is heroic quality, too, in the survivors who struggled through the
pain of loss, who have committed to keeping memories alive, who are
providing guiding examples for all of us, who are instilling virtues and
values such as this young girl shows.
Our sense of purpose should not end. Ever. We
should never stop distilling lessons from the tragedy. Nor should we
fall short in applying those lessons toward building a safer nation, a
stronger democracy, and a better society.
Our nation has gotten away from the incredible
unity of purpose that bound us in the weeks and months after 9/11. It
sends a powerful message when people of different backgrounds and
different faiths come together in common cause, as here today, as in
every community observing 9/11. May we find in ourselves, may we find
in those who lead us, the capacity to come together to strengthen
America. So that we are the best we can be, in spirit and in grace, in
our daily lives.
What we say, what we do, to remember the victims
of 9/11, matters a great deal. The ultimate solace comes in the
knowledge that the souls of those who perished that September day are
safe in the keeping of a merciful God.
