The Andover community honored the eight-year anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, during last Friday’s memorial service. During the 15-minute service, Patrick Brady ’11 delivered a musical performance, while several faculty members and administrators shared their reflections on September 11. Over the summer, Reverend Anne Gardner, Director of Spiritual and Religious Life and Chaplain, asked Brady to give a performance of “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen,” a musical theater song. “[While] I didn’t lose anyone on September 11, I was still absolutely gracious and glad that she asked me [to perform]. I thought it was an honor,” said Brady. Gardner said Brady’s performance was “gutwrenchingly beautiful.” “I chose [the song] intentionally. The song is about the real pain they carry over the things they have seen, [which is] a perfect lyrical beginning for a service about images and reflections on images. The [performance] set the tone for the service,” said Gardner. Following Brady’s performance were reflections from Barbara Chase, Head of School; Peter Drench, Chair of the History and Social Science department; Megan Paulson, Instructor in History and Social Science; Frank Tipton, Instructor in History and Social Science; Rabbi Michael Swarttz, Chaplain; and Gardner. Because school started after September 11 this year, there were relatively few students on campus to attend the service. However, some students who arrived early were able to pay their tributes. “Hearing other people’s stories gave me a moment to reflect on what September 11 meant to me as an individual. Also, the fact that they shared these stories made me reflect on it as a member of the community,” said Liz Lavin ’10, who attended the service. Gardner said that the memorial service met her expectations. “These kinds of [services] are very important. It gives people a forum to [share their] experience and talk about it,” said Gardner. “Even if you don’t know specific people [involved in the events of September 11], it really struck a nerve.” “There is a comfort that comes from marking [dates] in a ritual fashion, [such as a memorial service or a wedding],” added Gardner. “People hold on to these things.” Lavin said, “I think it’s important to go to [events] like [the memorial service], and it’s the least I can do to remember [September 11].”
