September 13, 2002: Volume 56, Number 1

On September 11, college finds meaning in 'union'

September 11, 2002 was not like most days at the College.

What one faculty member called "the moment this generation lost their political innocence" was still a fresh memory when the campus awoke on Wednesday.

A number of students, faculty and staff attended an interfaith prayer service at 8:30 a.m. in Memorial Chapel.

By 8:45, Dean of Students Fred Alford had begun to direct a group of orientation advisors who would oversee the building of a tribute to the victims of last year's terrorist attacks: 3,000 small flags -- one for each of the victims – placed in the College lawn just east of the Nott Memorial.

When the service was over, participants walked to the site of the tribute and began placing the first of the flags, in equal parts red, white and blue.

The bells tolled from Memorial Chapel at 8:46, 9:03, 9:59 and 10:29 a.m. to commemorate the attack and collapse of the World Trade Center Towers.

By early afternoon, the flag tribute was complete. Some students had arranged a group of the small flags into a mosaic of the American flag. Others had fashioned the letters "U.S.A."

Throughout the afternoon, the "field of flags" served as a reminder of the human toll of last September 11. With classes yet to start, students had time to stop at the flags and reflect. Many took pictures.

In the evening, the campus gathered in Memorial Chapel for a commemorative ceremony that started more than five minutes late as hundreds of students milled about outside waiting to get in. When the ceremony began, dozens were left standing. By all accounts, it was the largest group the chapel has held in recent memory, an estimated 1,000 members of the Union community.

The ceremony included a memoriam to six members of the Union family who were lost in the World Trade Center attacks: Thomas Duffy '71; Andrew Fredericks '83; Peter Freund '77; Donald Kauth '74; Alexander Steinman '91; Christopher Quackenbush, husband of Traci S. Quackenbush '80; and James Patrick, brother of Kevin Patrick, former assistant hockey coach.

Remarks came from Prof. Mohammed Mafi, board member of the Al-Fatemah Islamic Center; Viki Brooks-McDonald, protestant minister; George S. Forshey, Catholic chaplain; and Bonnie Cramer, Hillel program director. Jeffrey Silver '03 read the poem "Waltzing the Spheres" by Susan Scott Thompson.

President Roger Hull said, "I hope that September 11, 2001 will produce a change in all Americans, renew awareness that there is a right and wrong in the world, and ignite a new spirit in this country. Nurture that spirit. Develop further a solid core of values. Resolve to make those values a foundation that will serve you throughout your lives. And act on those values for your benefit and the benefit of your communities and country. Ultimately, that is the best and most lasting tribute that we can pay those whose lives were lost on September 11."

After the ceremony, the audience walked out of the chapel and circled the field of flags. Gusty winds made it impossible to hold a planned candle lighting ceremony, so President Hull suggested the group lock arms as two bagpipers played Amazing Grace. Prof. Tim Olsen concluded the evening with Taps, the bugle call composed by Daniel Butterfield, Class of 1849, and brigadier general of the Union Army.

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