The University of Mary Washington marked the 12th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11 and honored those who died with a commemorative flag raising ceremony and moment of silence. The event was organized and led by the members of UMW’s Association of Student Veterans.
The event began at 8:30 a.m. with the gathering of UMW students, faculty and staff and for a flag-raising ceremony on Jefferson Square. UMW’s ROTC students raised and lowered the flag, while UMW adjunct faculty instructor Jim Ford played taps . The ceremony was followed by a moment of silence on Ball Circle.
“9/11 showed we are vulnerable, not just overseas but here at home,” said Golda Eldridge, director of leadership at UMW’s Center for Honor, Leadership and Service and faculty adviser to the Association of Student Veterans. “We hope everyone will take the opportunity to pause, remember the lost and rededicate ourselves to protecting our ways of life.”
Student representatives from the UMW College Republicans and the UMW chapter of Young Americans for Freedom were also in attendance, setting up American flags around Ball Circle.
“We’re trying to keep the memory of what happened on that day alive for everybody,” said Max Reinhardt, chairman of the College Republicans.
David Helgran, president of the Association of Student Veterans, hopes the association will hold more events on campus in the future.
“While memorials and ceremonies don’t reverse the damage done on September 11, they do join us together and allow us as Americans to re-affirm our allegiance to our country and each other,” said Helgran. “This will always remain important because our faith in each other and our camaraderie as a nation is one of the traits that make us so incredibly strong.”
UMW’s Association of Student Veterans is dedicated to promoting recognition, appreciation and support for students who are military service members or veterans as well as their families and supporters.
