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There was an event held in Rome, featuring a copy of the statue that apparently survived the attack in New York city. It was more photo op than commemoration. | |
| There were two events that were publicized in Rome to honor the memories of those lost in the attacks on America. One of them was a mass in the basilica at S. Giovanni in Laterano. The other was in a small piazza not far from the Pantheon, featuring a replica of the Seward Johnson statue of a man on a bench that survived the attack on the World Trade Towers. I attended the event in the piazza, only to discover very quickly that it was more photographers than regular folk. There were a few people, about 50 or so, milling around kiosks with pictures of the attacks and notes from Italians. I began to cry when I saw one of the pictures of Union Square Park in New York, where every Saturday I go to my farmers' market. My American friend started comforting me, and then I heard her say something in Italian to the effect of “get lost!” I heard clicking and looked up to see myself surrounded by photographers. I realized that I had just become the photo op: “Tears. Get the shot.” 'Twas an insightful moment for this journalist. | ||