by Amanda K. Vetelino

The roar of the crowd rings in my ears long after the final notes have faded away into silence. When the lights illuminated the arena, I was amazed by the amount of fans who came out tonight. Over 15,000 fans filed into the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence to enjoy U2 for the first of two sold out shows.
As with all their other shows, the band-in the order of Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, The Edge, and Bono-came out with the house lights still up. The second they appeared, the crowd worked itself into a frenzy. Things only got better as this night went on.
One special moment came when Bono was seen tenderly holding the American flag to his chest during "Sunday Bloody Sunday." At the end of the song, a chant of "USA" echoed off all sides of the building.
Another came at the end of "Bad" as Bono left the stage and climbed the rafters behind him. As expected, there was a mad rush of fans racing toward this one of a kind showman. To add to this surprise, as Bono was slowly making his way back to the floor, he switched into a few verses from "40."
When the encore came around, Bono removed his jacket and turned it inside out to reveal the stars and stripes over the lining. The screen behind the band suddenly rose and lit up. As the band launched into "One," the names of all the victims of September 11 scrolled across the screen and the ceiling.
For this teacher, this was a touching moment and for a damn good reason. When one name in particular was seen, I broke down crying. The name: Shawn M. Nassaney. He was a graduate of the school I now teach at. The day following the tragedy, I saw Shawn's brother and offered him and his family my condolences. This was a reminder that thousands of people have lost their lives but that they will always be with us in our hearts.
This concert was a dream come true. I have admired and respected U2 for over a decade. Their music continues to inspire me and bring hope to all who hear it. As far as terrorism goes, I think Bono said it best when he declared, "Osama Bin Laden can kis my royal Irish a**!"
This concert shows everyone in the country that even in the smallest state of the union, we will go on with our lives. We will not back down, we will not surrender, we are one, and we will carry each other through this time of need.

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