“Where were you on 9/11?”
Nearly everyone can remember when they first heard the news that the United States was under attack. Two icons and nearly 3,000 lives later the nation was in fear and looking for retribution. Soon after Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda organization claimed the savagery for their own. Soon after the U.S. invades Afghanistan and just a few years later, Iraq, ousting both regimes and trying to re-stabilize the territory.
So much has changed over the past decade, but for those who lost someone that day a lot of their loss remains the same. Unfortunately, these acts of terror have starkly militarized our society. So, instead of visiting the Pentagon as I did last year, I photographed the memorial Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Archbishop Emeritus of Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was the main celebrant and the basilica was near capacity. The cardinal’s presence was significant because he was the homilist at the first anniversary of 9/11 in 2002.
Remembering that day in a church as opposed to the Pentagon is that it didn’t have that militarized feeling. It was more peaceful and the atmosphere didn’t contribute to those gathered to wallow in the sorrow and pain of loss, but rather enabled them to realize something higher. So, I photographed the Mass which promoted unity, peace, and reconciliation.
The War on Terror grinds on, sucking lives away from families around the world. This manifestation of hate, terrorism, must be stopped. However, we need to remember and understand Matthew 26:52. Only then can justice truly be served and peace begin to spread and establish itself in all those hearts so torn by the events of 9/11.