With the cooperation of volunteers, the Harding campus will display 2,977 flags symbolizing each one of the casualties on Sept. 11 as well as hosting a special chapel on the anniversary of the attack.
“For our students, it is probably one of the most memorable historic events in their lifetimes because of the terrorist attack on U.S. soil,” said Liz Howell, assistant to the president for alumni and parent relations. “Everyone usually remembers exactly where they were when they heard the news and howthey tried to explain what had happened that day.”
The impact of the 9/11 attacks impacted the Harding community as Judy Hart, an Aramark employee, lost her cousin on Sept. 11.
“One of the most important things we need to remember is that it was an attack against the entire international community, not only against the United States,” Mark Elrod, professor of political science, said.
Startingon Sept. 9, the American Studies Institute and Pi Sigma Alpha are planning to install flags on Harding’s front lawn. It is an activity that has taken place on campus since 2002.
Honoring the people from other countries who also died during the attacks, Pi Sigma Alpha will be displaying the flag of each country that suffered casualties. On Wednesday, professors from the department of communications will be in charge of chapel and will discuss the topic “never forget.”
According to Bob Reely, associate executive director of the ASI, lights are going to be installed on the front lawn to illuminate the flags as part of the improvements to honor the victims.
“It was a tragic day, a tragic event for so many people and we want to try (to) make it as personal as possible to try (to) not let it distance ourselves from the actual events,” said Jonathan Crews, president of the American Students Institute.
Reely said he believes in the importance of having this event and the remembrance of a day that changed the United States. According to Reely, it is even more important to remember that out of this tragic event, the strong foundation of unity within the American people was expressed.
“This is kind of the Pearl Harbor of our generation,” senior Jonathan Crews said. “You know, it’s a tragic event that happened that we need to remember, those who suffered and died, and help teach us how to be better Americans as a whole. That is something we don’t want to forget.”
