As vigils and moments of silence around the country marked the third anniversary of Sept. 11, the University did its own part in remembering the people and the events of that day.
At halftime during Saturday's home football game the Cavalier Marching Band played a selection of songs in a "Tribute to Freedom." The tribute included an arrangement by Larry Clark called "Saint's Hallelujah," and was followed by a song called, "Big Noise," which was played to the student section. Members of the Fairfax County Fire Department then received a standing ovation while helping to unfold the U.S. flag as the band played its final song, "America the Beautiful."
There was also a moment of silence before the National Anthem.
Third-year College student Nancy Martin said she appreciated the football game memorial.
"The silence and the tribute songs were appropriate to have for a football game," Martin said. "Some of my friends are from New York, and it was a rough day for them. People respected the silence. No one was talking."
Tributes continued directly after the football game. Approximately 250 people attended a "Remember the Fallen" memorial vigil in the Amphitheatre.
The vigil was held by the U.Va. Student Fellows of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. It was co-sponsored by other organizations including the College Republicans, the University Democrats, the Office of Student Life and the University Alumni Association.
The vigil's keynote speaker was Virginia's top homeland security official, George Foresman, assistant to the governor for Commonwealth preparedness.
"We were lucky to get our keynote speaker, because he is a pretty busy person in Virginia," said Rachael Robinson, vigil co-organizer and member of the U.Va. Student Fellows of the Foundation for the Defense of Deomcracies.
The vigil also featured a presentation by the University Air Force ROTC Colorguard, a performance by the University Singers and an interfaith prayer and moment of silence led by University Chaplain Mildred Best.
City Fire Chief Julian Taliaferro and City Police Chief Timothy Longo were also present to commemorate their fallen companions.
First-year College student Jessica Kreher attended the vigil Saturday.
"I'm from Northern Virginia and my aunt was in the Pentagon on Sept. 11," Kreher said. "She was fine, but it was a personal thing for me because it was important to her. I just thought it was important to participate in something to remember the day."
In New York, as in past years, there were no speeches to memorialize those fallen at the twin towers. Instead, government officials read quotations from former American presidents, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered a three hour recitation of the names of the victims of Sept. 11.
The third anniversary of Sept. 11 currently is playing a key role in the political atmosphere, not only in New York, Washington D.C. and Shanksville, Pa. where the attacks occurred, but around the country as well. This year, President Bush and democratic presidential nominee John Kerry maintained lower profiles during the anniversary than in previous years, Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato said.
"The candidates were careful not to schedule events during the day, and the radio addresses later on were appropriate," Sabato said.
At the White House, President Bush and his staff observed a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the moment when the first airplane made contact with the north tower of the World Trade Center three years ago. Vice President Dick Cheney observed the day by attending an inter-faith service at a New Jersey church, where the lives of 84 Port Authority workers who perished in the attacks were remembered.
Kerry observed the day by placing three white lilies at a Sept. 11 memorial at Boston Public Garden. He then addressed a service at Boston's Baroque Opera House. Kerry's running mate John Edwards attended a prayer breakfast sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus in the District.
Terrorism and the potential for future attacks on the United States have helped the president's reelection campaign thus far, Sabato said.
"The war on terror is helping President Bush," Sabato said. "He has his largest lead over Kerry on this issue."
If another terror attack was to occur it could drastically alter the election dynamic, he added.
"That's the $64,000 question," Sabato said. "Who knows? Hopefully, we will never have to answer that question."
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