Ashland University Students Honor 2,977 Victims With 9/11 Flag Memorial
ASHLAND, Ohio — A powerful display of patriotism and remembrance is taking shape today on the front lawn of Ashland University’s student center, where students are placing approximately 3,000 American flags in honor of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The 9/11 Flag Memorial, sponsored by the Ashland University College Republicans, honors the 2,977 people who lost their lives during the attacks:
2,753 victims at the World Trade Center
184 victims at the Pentagon
40 victims aboard Flight 93
Students, faculty members, staff and community members are being invited to help place the flags and pause for a moment of quiet reflection.
Hannah Miller said the memorial is especially meaningful because today’s college students were born after the attacks and have no personal memories of that tragic day.
“We are all born after 2001 and after 9/11,” Miller said. “Taking the time to remember and making sure that we never forget is something that is very important to us.”
Although the College Republicans organized the memorial, Miller emphasized that the display is not intended to make a political statement. Instead, it is meant to unite people from every background in honoring the innocent lives that were lost.
“We have people from all different backgrounds, all different walks of life and all different political organizations coming out,” Miller said. “I know people who are Democrats who have placed flags. I know people who have completely opposite views from me, and I will still gladly hand them a flag.”
Ashland University President of College Republicans John Keim commented, I’m grateful to live in a community that embraces patriotism to the scale that Ashland does. My hope for this memorial is that the current generation and the next generations remembers the tragic events of 9/11.
Participants are encouraged to reflect after placing each flag, remembering that every flag represents a person whose life was taken and a family that was forever changed.
Organizers hope to have all the flags in place by the end of the day so the completed memorial will greet the Ashland University community on the morning of Sept. 11.
Nearly 25 years after America was attacked, these young patriotic men and women are demonstrating that remembrance does not end with the generation that witnessed that terrible day.
Through their time, effort and respect, Ashland University students are helping fulfill a solemn national promise:
We will never forget.
