IWA commemorates anniversary of Sept. 11

Incarnate Word Academy students and faculty sent hand-written messages on ribbons and sent them to New York City on Sept. 9, where they will become part of the Tapestries of Hope in Battery Park at Ground Zero.

The activity was part of Ribbons of Hope, an interactive community project designed to commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of Sept. 11 by uniting people of all backgrounds, religions, ages and races.

The ribbons create a multi-colored, multi-cultural tapestry of prayers, hopes, dreams and memories, for a world in great need of healing and peace.

In conjunction with the Ribbons of Hope project, students inscribed the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” in eight languages, on the Peace Pole, a permanent remembrance on the campus. The Peace Pole, a reminder for vigilant prayer for peace in our world, traveled to each level of the IWA campuses before its installation on Sept. 11.

Sophomore Evan Buhidar remembers sitting in his kindergarten classroom when the tragic events of Sept. 11 unfolded. His teacher turned on the television and the students prayed while waiting for their parents to come pick them up.

Evan said he feels not only a patriotic draw towards the Ribbons of Hope, but always sees it as “an opportunity to enhance my faith and all faiths across the nation in the pursuit of peace and tolerance.”