The ceremony is being nationally televised; the platform will be filled with dignitaries; the reopening of the monument is an emotional touchstone for Americans.

The main theme of racial discrimination was also an emotional touchstone for many audience members.

After everyone has left, Tony sits alone and watches "Public Enemy," an emotional touchstone for the character and a creative one for Mr. Chase.

African-American musicians created the music that became the emotional touchstone and release for many black and white Americans across several eras.

"It's a very important historic and emotional touchstone for the Village, and really all of Lower Manhattan," said Thomas Duane, the local state senator.

Three years after Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese sovereignty, Tiananmen Square is no longer the emotional touchstone it once was.

He is an emotional touchstone whose music and public image provoke complicated responses, depending on which year you're looking at.

Likewise, the only reason that Elsa and Naomi had similar bracelets was that it would serve as an "emotional touchstone" for Sayid.

And the invaluable Dana Ivey once again turns a nominally small role into a production's emotional touchstone.

The essential facts and emotional touchstones of Mr. Maxwell's life that are presented in "Billie Dyer" will also be familiar to followers of his earlier work.