by Stephanie Farr & Regina Medina
Philadelphia Daily News
IT WAS a day when other, more wounded corners of the country were the main focus of attention. But Philadelphia did more than its share to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks yesterday, as hundreds joined hands to mourn and remember.
At Rittenhouse Square, a circle of hand-holding strangers – from a young man in a Beatles yarmulke to a friar in a Franciscan robe – was the culmination of “Hands Across the Square,” an interfaith festival and remembrance service.
Meanwhile, Mayor Nutter went to six local 9/11 memorials yesterday, ending up at an event at Independence Hall.
“As Americans we must refuse to let this evil act define us as a nation,” the mayor said, speaking from a podium with religious and city dignitaries behind him.
He concluded: “There is only one group of people who get to define America and that’s Americans. That’s us. That’s we the people.”
Nutter’s last line cued a group of 40 high-school students to storm the front area of the dais. They took off their sweatshirts revealing purple T-shirts underneath. The tees read “Mastery Charter Schools.”
“We won’t forget! Those who risked their lives for us! Those who make sacrifices for us every day! Those who we lost on 9/11!” they chanted from a pledge that students had drafted with school officials.
Once they were finished and received a rousing applause from the 150 in the crowd, Nutter nicely timed his next line: “Now that’s a flash group I can support.”
Arlene Segal ventured to Philadelphia from her Blue Bell home for the city’s commemorative event at Independence Hall and enjoyed the surprise ending.
“It was wonderful to have the kids. I think it’s good to see that there are kids who are involved and they are about our future and they are the future,” said Segal, 65, who was accompanied by her husband, David Segal.
Meanwhile, a Prayer Gathering of Memory and Hope at the Arch Street Friends Meeting House – also attended by Nutter – was more sedate.
Cellist Talia Schiff played the Third Movement from Paul Hindemith’s “Solo Sonata.” Daughters rested their heads on their mothers’ shoulders, women in brim hats fanned themselves and men closed their eyes to reflect on the somber anniversary.
Mark Ristine, 44, is director of student ministries at Trinity Lutheran Church. He brought four teens to the interfaith service and the Independance Hall event.
“We could choose today to be just sad or angry, but this gathering was about the hope and the future,” Ristine said. “I really want the kids in the program to understand the interconnectedness [among religions] and that it’s not one side versus another. We’re all in this together.”
At the Rittenhouse Square event, the Rev. Sean Mullen of St. Mark’s Church said he thought the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks was as good a day as any to promote an open dialogue about religion in Philadelphia.
“Any day would be appropriate but this is a day that can underscore our unity or our separation,” Mullen said. “This event underscores our unity.”
The event was a product of the Center City Residents Association, which has 18 congregations within its boundaries, said association board member Steve Huntington.
From Lutheran to Shambhala and from Muslim to Jewish, there were 14 tents and faiths represented at the festival.
Mustafa Yazicioglu, 32, manned the booth for the Dialogue Forum, a Turkish-American Muslim group. He said he was there to show that Muslims are united with other faiths.
Nearby, Fatin Guzlan and Sally Selim, of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, handed out dates, a traditional Muslim treat.
“We’re here to explain that we’re Americans, too, and that Sept. 11 was a double whammy for us,” said Selim. “It hit us as Americans and it hit our religion.”
During a short service, remarks and prayers were presented by imams, rabbis, priests and Buddhists. They spoke of everything from fear to friendliness but the overarching theme was unity, which was stressed by the Rev. Erika Takacs of St. Mark’s.
“Let us stand together holding the hands of these, our neighbors, and remind one another and the world that we need each other, that we are indeed greatly blessed and that we are one,” Takacs said.
Shawn McGonigal, 34, who said he just happened upon the service while wearing his “Atheism: A non-prophet organization” T-shirt, said he was upset athiesm was not represented.
“If you’re saying this is one nation under God, that automatically leaves us out,” he said.
