Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
Twenty-five years ago on Sept. 7, David Hale Sylvester hung out with his friend Kevin Bowser in their South Philly neighborhood. They didn\u2019t share a parting hug. <\/p>\n
Four days later, on Sept. 11, Sylvester would wrestle with that moment as he anxiously waited to hear from Bowser, who worked in the World Trade Center complex. <\/p>\n
Bowser perished in the terror attacks on the twin towers that day along with thousands others.<\/p>\n
For Sylvester, that missed opportunity to embrace his beloved friend one last time pushed him to create a movement of hope and hugs.<\/p>\n
This week, on Friday, as Americans once again gather to remember the victims of 9\/11, Sylvester will hold space at the Philadelphia Film Society Center with a Hug Hub<\/a>, a photo installation featuring strangers embracing each other through tragedy and loss. He will also be there waiting, arms wide open, for anyone who needs a hug. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a space where people can come as strangers and leave with a hug,\u201d Sylvester said. <\/p>\n How a missed embrace became a man\u2019s mission<\/p>\n As Sylvester mourned his friend, he said he realized he was not alone in his journey of grief. <\/p>\n \u201cEvery American felt vulnerable during that time and wanted to connect in some way,\u201d Sylvester said. \u201cI have never seen a time like that where everybody in the country, no matter the race, no matter if you are a Democrat or Republican, we all just needed to be connected.\u201d <\/p>\n Carrying that loss and that last missing hug, Sylvester in 2002 mounted his pain on a bicycle and rode through 50 states, hugging strangers in small towns and big cities.<\/p>\n