Option #2 (is strongly moved by thinking about the lives and dreams of those who perished there)
Have you ever been absolutely stunned to the point where you have no words left? This is what the passage is trying to portray. By saying that it brought "utter silence to me" meant that he was at a loss of words. He was emotionally moved by the thought of those who perished. There were no words left for him to say.
Hope this helped!! ❤
