Community Corner
Campus to Hold Vigil to Remember 9/11 Anniversary
University of Maryland hopes to draw thousands in memory of all who died 10 years ago.
On the south side of the University of Maryland’s Memorial Chapel is the Garden of Reflection and Remembrance, what will be the location for a vigil to observe the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“This is indeed a place for quietness and calm reflection,” Chaplain Beth Platz said, explaining that the garden, and the winding labyrinth pathway it surrounds, serves a purpose that is not solely religious.
“For some it’s to get in touch with themselves; for some, perhaps an understanding that takes them outside themselves. For some it is specifically religious ... so it meets a variety of people’s needs.”
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The circular labyrinth is the garden’s centerpiece. Important to note: It’s not a maze, since no puzzles are involved. There’s just one path -- as visitors walk along, their steps slowly direct them from the outer edge into the labyrinth’s nucleus; then they retrace those strides back to the entrance. Platz said sprigs of thyme were planted underneath so each step prompts a pleasant, earthy aroma.
According to Veriditas, a non-profit organization that promotes labyrinth design and use, they facilitate pilgrimage into the soul and promote deep reflection.
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This reflection is not limited to observing the past, but also looking to the future; although many remember 9/11 vividly, most incoming freshmen will have only been 8 years old when the Twin Towers fell.
“It has that rich reflection that, hopefully, will leave us with some resources as we look to the future,” Platz said.
The event, called the Walk of Remembrance, will start at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 and end at 8 a.m. Monday. University President Dr. Wallace Loh will also walk during Sunday’s proceedings.
The observation is open to the campus and the public. Representing every single person that died, participants will walk a candle through the garden’s labyrinth.
To participate, register online. Here, you can choose a time and specific person for whom to walk. Volunteers are also needed for event logistics and supervision of the proceedings. Those interested should contact Marsha Guenzler-Stevens of the Center for Campus Life at 301-314-8505.
So how has 9/11 affected you and your family? What do you remember from that day? What will you do Sunday to remember?
