On Sunday evening on ABC I am visiting I watched the National Cathedral’s “Concert of Hope” a ten year anniversary memorial service for 9/11. The event was moved to the Kennedy Center due to damage caused to the National Cathedral during the earthquake and an accident last week when a 500-foot crane fell. Hosted by the former CNN correspondent and new talk show host Anderson Cooper, the show opened and a performance by country singer Allan Jackson. Jackson sang a that he wrote a shortly after the attacks when he needed to express his own feelings about the nation’s tragedy. The song titled “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” is a song with stirring lyrics.
I have heard and liked several of Allan Jackson’s songs in the past. Ten years ago I heard that song but perhaps like so many others was moved by its lyrics during his performance, did nothing to respond to them. The lyrics like the man that wrote and sang them were simple and profound. The chorus goes, “I’m just a singer of simple songs, I’m not a real political man, I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you the difference between in Iraq and Iran”. If you have never heard the song or read the lyrics I challenge you to do so. I enjoyed Jackson’s performance and thought the producers choice of having Jackson perform it to open the nation’s church “Concert of Hope’ was an excellent choice.
In between the performance that followed Jackson were prophetic words and prose delivered by host Cooper and by relatives of those lost that day. The wife of a supervisor at the Port Authority, the brother of a worker from the Pentagon was among those everyday citizens that participated in the program.
President Obama attended the sites of all three 9/11 targets but spoke at the National Cathedral’s event after a standing ovation. His speech was a reminder of the pain and void left by those that were lost and of the tenacity and resolve of those of us that survived. He spoke of the sacrifice of those everyday workers going about their lives, of the firemen, police and EMS workers than ran towards the fires and smoke filled buildings to save the lives of others, and of the young men and women that entered military service, to protect and defend after the attack. He started and ended his speech with a verse from the Bible that says “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Mrs. Obama and Vice President and Mrs. Biden also attended the event.
Patti Labelle and the Cathedral Choir also performed. Ms. Labelle’s performance did not disappoint its usual dramatic expectation. She passed her microphone to a woman that was singing with her onstage and at times her own voice was difficult to hear. Only seconds before she sang her last note she walked over to the area where the President and Vice President and their wives were seated to greet them. It appeared to me that Ms. Labelle caught the Secret Service off guard by her actions, but what about Patti on stage surprises her audience, not much?
The performance ended with a perfectly flawless rending of Amazing Grace by Mezzo Soprano Denyce Graves. Ms. Graves performed at the nation’s first anniversary of 9/11 at the request of President George W Bush. Grave’s performance of The Lord’s Prayer at that event was moving and gave national recognition to those not familiar with the opera diva. As I reflect on her performance at that event tears welled in my eyes when thinking of the nearly 3000 lives taken away. Ten years later Graves again wowed the audience with her grace, poise and the exquisite vocal instrument with which she has been blessed. If you did not see the “Concert for Hope” check your local television listings for a reairing of the show. God bless you and may God bless America.
Anderson Coopers new daytime talk show Anderson premiers tomorrow on your local ABC affiliate, check your local listings for air times.
The text of the President’s speech at the Concert of Hope
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/11/remarks-president-concert-hope
Lyrics to Allan Jackson’s song “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning”)
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/alanjackson/wherewereyouwhentheworldstoppedturning.html