US President George W Bush led the nation in a day of mourning on Friday, presiding over an emotional memorial ceremony at Washington’s National Cathedral. He joined his wife First Lady Laura Bush and a congregation of prominent leaders for the televised proceedings before heading off to New York to see the devastation first hand.
“In every generation, the world has produced enemies of human freedom,” Bush said. “They have attacked America because we are freedom’s home and defender. And the commitment of our fathers is now the calling of our time… We are here in the middle hour of our grief. Our unity is a kinship of grief and a steadfast resolve to prevail against our enemies.”
The President invoked the memory of generations past in both consoling and inspiring those in mourning. “Americans do not yet have the distance of history but our responsibility to history is clear: to rid the world of evil,” he said. “Our nation is peaceful but fierce when stirred to anger.”
Bush was joined by former US Presidents Bill Clinton, George HW Bush, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, as well as their families. Vice President Dick Cheney is believed to have been at the presidential retreat at Camp David.
Religious leaders from different faiths addressed the crowd, including Reverend Billy Graham, the longtime spiritual advisor to US presidents. “We’ve always needed God, from the very beginning of this nation,” said Graham. “But today we need Him especially.”
“Give us comfort, help us in our distress, keep us together as people of diverse faiths, colors and races,” said a Muslim leader, Imam Muzammil H Siddiqi. The service closed with the Battle Hymn Of The Republic.
Across the globe in Frosinone, Italy, Pope John Paul II offered solace to some 40,000 gathered in solidarity. “May (the Madonna) give comfort and hope to those who are suffering as a result of the tragic terrorist attack which has deeply wounded our beloved American people in these last few days,” he said. “I direct my heartbroken thoughts to all the children of that great nation.”
Several prominent European royals attended services on Friday to show their solidarity with the US. At a mass in Storkyrkan, the Swedish royal family joined Prime Minister Goran Persson in remembering those who perished in Tuesday’s terrorist attacks.
Elsewhere on the continent, Prince Rainier of Monaco joined his children Princess Caroline and Prince Albert to mark the tragedy at a memorial. Prince Willem-Alexander of Holland and fiancée Maxima Zorreguieta expressed their condolences at the cathedral in Utrecht where Cardinal Adrianus J Simonis, Archbishop of the Netherlands, presided.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
