In Honor of Those Who Perished on September 11, 2001:

The Prayer Vigil for the Earth in 2001 was the only event on the Mall immediately after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Individuals made their own prayer vigils the focus of the Prayer Vigil. Lasting hours at a time, prayers were given for the dead in New York City, Washington DC and Pennsylvania, where one of the planes crashed, and for the grieving families affected.

That year, during prayers for the nation and for peace, the President of the United States flew over the Prayer Vigil site and two helicopters circled our circle while far above, an Air Force jet made a much wider circle. This as we stood in the midst of the major symbols of our nation, the monuments and dome of the Capitol. It was a striking example of resonance of the Prayer Vigil with the rest of our Nation and with the world around us. The Vigil's circle of people waved and called out for peace.