Words from Dean Scholz

Campus Ceremony on the Front Lawn, September 13

Chestertown, MD, September 13, 2001 — The tragic events of this week have touched every one of us. Many of us have friends, relatives, and loved ones among the dead or among those still missing in New York, Washington D.C. and in Pennsylvania. By attacking these innocents, those responsible for this terrible act have attacked each one of us. We are joined in outrage and grief.

We come together today to express our solidarity in the face of this destruction. It is a time to remember that even in Chestertown we are members of a global society. As an educational community, we remain united in our pursuit of truth, united in the love of the wisdom that grows from it, and united in our commitment to peace around the world.

We also come together today to reflect on the lives of those who have perished, to honor the memory of those who died at the hand of terror as well as those who sacrificed their lives in acts of rescue.

In placing flowers at the feet of our founder's statue, we declare the community of Washington College to be of one heart. We dedicate our labors to the support of each other in this time of need and to the preservation of all that is good in our community, in our nation, and in the world.

I will now place a wreath on behalf of the College to witness our respect for the victims and in evidence of our dedication to the values inscribed in the mission of Washington College. I invite all of you to join me in the laying of flowers in acknowledgement of our community's deep sense of sorrow and solidarity.