WORCESTER – Seven alumni from the College of the Holy Cross died during the terrorist attack on this country on September 11, 2001. The school will never forget.

On Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, the school marked the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with an interfaith remembrance service for the seven alumni, and all others who died or suffered on that tragic day. The event was sponsored by the Office of the College Chaplains.

In the school’s Memorial Plaza, the seven alumni remembered were John J. Ryan, Class of 1978; Edward A. Brennan III, Class of 1986; Thomas D. Burke, Class of 1985; Neilie Heffernan Casey, Class of 1990; John G. Farrell, Class of 1991; Todd Isaac, Class of 1994; and Beth Quigley, Class of 1997. They were honored by Vincent D. Rougeau, president of the College of the Holy Cross, as he read their names aloud.

After a moment of silence, this was followed by a musical offering of Johan Sebastian Bach’s “Bist du bei Mir,” which means “Stay by me and I will go with peace.” The song was played by Brett Cotter ’19 and Joe Cracolici ’23 on cellos.

Several students and Marybeth Kearns-Barrett, director of the college chaplains for the school, took part in reciting a litany honoring all those who lost their lives 20 years ago. Students Elsi Ojanen ’24, Daisey Fanter ’24, Madelyn Rubert ’22, Marco Spataro ’23, Andrew Buck ’22, and Deysi Tirado ’24 all participated.

“We remember all those we know who have been touched by this tragedy,” Kearns-Barrett said. Ojanen remembered the thousands of people who died on the planes and those “who did not escape those buildings.” Fanter recognized the firefighters “who rushed in to help” and the police who stood to “protect.” Rubert acknowledged the citizens of New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. who “came together to help” and to “heal.” In response, they chanted “we remember with compassion and pray for a lasting peace.”

The remembrance service ended with prayers led by Emily Rauer Davis, the associate Chaplain and director of Domestic Immersions for the school, and Omondi Andrew, the assistant Chaplain and director of athletics. Kearns-Barrett closed the service with a Sharing of Peace.