Friday, September 12

American flags dotted the grass in University Yard on Thursday like a field of flowers, memorializing the lives lost on Sept. 11 seven years ago.

The installation of 2,977 flags, each representing a victim of the attacks, was arranged by the GW chapter of Young America’s Foundation, one of several campus organizations that observed the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Its been seven years and we don’t want people to begin to feel apathetic,” said sophomore Sam Bain, GW YAF’s director of membership.

Members of YAF began setting up the memorial at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. The group manned a table in University Yard during the afternoon, distributing YAF literature and pins commemorating the historic day.

The flags remained in place in University Yard through the evening candlelight vigil that was coordinated by the University and several student organizations, including the Student Association.

“I’ve come to this vigil all three of my years here at GW,” said junior Courtney Goldberg. “I think the SA does a nice job with it.”

Members of the GW community gathered at 8 p.m. in University Yard to reflect on the significance of Sept. 11 and listen to speaker Daniel Kaniewski, a GW alumnus and researcher with GW’s Homeland Security Policy Institute. The ceremony included a moment of silence.

“Students are very respectful at this event which I think is important,” said sophomore Jamie Chu. “It’s nice to see everyone work together to hold this service.”

Nearly twelve hours prior to the vigil, at 8:46 a.m., the bells tolled on both the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses for one minute. The timing coincided with the moment that the North Tower of New York’s World Trade Center was struck by American Airlines Flight 11 seven years ago.