This year marks the 10th anniversary of 9/11, a day etched into the memory of almost every American. In honor of the thousands of innocent Americans killed in those terrorist attacks, a mass email to Robert Morris University students, faculty and staff announced that the Army ROTC and RMU’s Chapter of the College Republicans are sponsoring the 9/11: Never Forget Project and a 9/11 Remembrance Program on campus.
As stated on the Young American’s Foundation website, the 9/11: Never Forget Project began in 2003 in order to properly remember the anniversary because the foundation learned that many college campuses were doing nothing.
Beth Miller, advisor for the RMU College Republicans, confirmed that RMU has participated in this nationwide event along with some 200 other schools, colleges and universities since 2007.
This project involves a flag display in which each flag represents a person that lost his or her life on 9/11. RMU began the set up of this memorial on Tuesday, Sept. 6 on the Nicholson Front Lawn.
The 443 larger flags represent the number of police officers, paramedics and firefighters as well as the passengers and crew of Flight 93.
Bill Jones, president of RMU College Republicans and member of the Army ROTC, added that new to the display this year are ten 12-by-18 inches flags, which observe the 10th anniversary, and four 2-by-3 feet flags, which serve as a memorial to the Twin Towers, Pentagon and Shanksville, PA crash site.
Today, in the Ann and Alvin Rogal Chapel, a 9/11 Remembrance Program will be held from noon to 1 p.m. As stated in the mass email, the program’s focus is “to remember the lives lost as well as the heroism displayed and the American spirit that triumphed.”
Miller stated that the event would begin with a welcome by RMU President Gregory Dell’Omo followed by a flag folding ceremony by the Army ROTC. Other speakers include Ellen Lichius, vice president of RMU College Republicans, and someone from the campus ministry as well as the RMU concert choir, which will perform two songs.
According to the mass email, Moon Township’s Volunteer Fire Company also invites the RMU community to a special ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 11 to dedicate a steel artifact from the World Trade Center in honor of the near 3,000 lives lost in the terror attacks.
The dedication is scheduled to take place at the Moon Township Memorial Garden on 1000 Beaver Grade Road at 10 a.m.
With several events planned for the remembrance of 9/11, Jones encourages everyone to attend something because this event had such a significant impact on the world.
“People around the world were affected by [9/11]. Just letting it slide by the wayside just doesn’t make sense to me,” explained Jones. “It’s something that every year everyone should do something just to remember it.”
