Despite light precipitation, members of Shippensburg University’s administration, students, staff, Student Veterans of America and ROTC gathered outside the Ezra Lehman Memorial Library Tuesday morning to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Led by ROTC Cadet Darren Fossett, the ceremony was part of the Student Veterans of America and ROTC’s annual remembrance of 9/11.
“This ceremony will become more and more important as the years pass, as members of the student body will be born after 2001,” Fossett said.
Most students in high school have been born after 2001 and are learning about 9/11 as another historical event that occurred before their lifetime.
Fossett proceeded to read each of the names of the 40 members of Flight 93, which crashed in an empty Pennsylvania field near Shanksville, just 89 miles from Shippensburg.
“We are here to never forget,” Fossett said. “We refuse to forget.”
Also honored during the ceremony were Shippensburg University alumni Nathan E. DeTample and Wesley J. Hinkley, who were killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom; and Sean M. Flannery, who was killed in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Following the reading of the names, there was a moment of silence to honor the victims and a playing of taps.
The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.