Saint Mary’s to Toll Bell for Each September 11^th Victim

The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary-in-the-Highlands, Cold Spring, will commemorate the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in several ways.

On Wednesday, September 11, the first anniversary of that tragic and terrible day, the Rector of Saint Mary’s, Father Shane Scott-Hamblen, will begin tolling the church bell at precisely 8:46 a.m., the moment when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. He and a few volunteers from the parish will continue tolling the bell – once for each of the 3,054 victims (dead and missing) of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentegon, and for those on United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed near Pittsburgh. He estimates that the bell will toll for over three hours that morning.

Many are familiar with the expression “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and its answer, “It tolls for thee.” Church bells have been for used for centuries to warn people of danger, to celebrate happy events, and to mark sorrowful occasion. The common phrase “death toll” comes from the Church’s custom of solemnly tolling (vs. ringing for joyful occasions) a bell when someone has died. The mournful single tone serves to draw people’s attention to a community loss. Traditionally, the bell would toll once for each year of the deceased person’s life. Sadly, keeping that custom on this day would take weeks of ringing. Before the advent of television and radio, the village church’s bell was an important means of communication.

Also on September 11, there will be a quiet, reflective, Mass of Remembrance at 5:30 p.m. to further commemorate the one-year anniversary.

In addition, Saint Mary’s will offer a traditional Solemn Requiem Mass on Sunday, September 8, at 10:30 a.m. Special music will be provided by the accomplished musician, Mr. Stanton Daugherty, of Armonk, NY, who will be the guest organist.

The word “Requiem” comes from the Latin “Requiescant in pace” (R.I.P.) (“May they rest in peace”) and “Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine” (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord”). We pray for those who have died and commend them to God.

The Rector and people of Saint Mary’s invites the village community to join them on Sunday, September 8^th, and Wednesday, September 11^th in remembering this day. We welcome all people, no matter what their faith, to join us in praying for the victims and their families.