Lipscomb University prepares for 9/11 memorial
This Friday, Sept. 11, marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. In recent years, Lipscomb University has partaken in the nation’s memoriam of the devastating attacks by planting American flags all over the Square.
With this year being the 25th anniversary, Lipscomb staff has put together a full day of activities in which students can learn about 9/11 and how it changed the nation.
The events will begin on the Bell Tower steps at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony. Director of Veteran Services Samuel Lynn will give a speech. Alongside him the Lipscomb Concert Choir will perform an acapella rendition of “God Bless America,” the same way Congress did on the night of 9/11.
After that a blood drive will begin in the Paul Rogers Boardroom at 9:30 a.m. and will run to 2:00 p.m. Every pint of blood donated will lead to a donation to first responders. Participants will receive a free t-shirt.
At 10 a.m., 11a.m and 1p.m. there will be showings of three different short documentaries that focus on personal impact stories. All three screenings will be in Shamblin Theater.
The final major event of the day is a 2,200 stair-climb honoring first responders who climbed 110 flights of stairs. Whilst climbing participants can listen to the story of Welles Crowther also known as the Man in the Red Bandana. The event will take place in Allen Arena at noon and will run until 2 p.m. The first 200 to arrive will receive a red bandana.
Lynn played a major role in putting this year’s event together. While past events only took a couple weeks of preparation, he explained that this year’s event has been in the works since March because of the anniversary’s significance.
“We’re recognizing that this is not just a remembrance event anymore,” said Lynn. “This is also an opportunity. Most of our graduate students either weren’t born yet or they were infants when it happened. So, for those of us that remember it, it’s an incredibly… sobering event. But for you guys, while you may not have been around when it happened, all of our undergraduate students and most of our graduate students were at least born during the time of war that happened in the aftermath of it, so you’re still connected to it.”
Part of what makes this year’s event so much larger than the previous ones is that Lynn and his team set out to plant a flag for each person that passed away on 9/11. Flags will be set up in a way that represents the lives lost in four different places: the North tower, the South tower, the Pentagon and Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania.
“60% the North Tower. 32% of the casualties from the South Tower. 3% at the Pentagon and 1.7 [Flight 93]. So if you want to know the breakdown, 2,977 total lives were lost. 1,792 of those in the North Tower, 952 in the South Tower, 189 in the Pentagon. 07:28 and 44 from Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania when the passengers took over.”
The 2,977 flags will be placed on the lawn by the campus’ Bell Tower September 10th, the day before the event. At its center will be a flagpole with a flag featuring the names of those who perished.
Adjacent to these flags will also be a 10-by 20-foot tent that will be walkthrough timeline of events. Boards inside will be dedicated to the events, aftermath and heroes of 9/11. This will be available throughout the day.
“Encourage your friends to come out,” said Jimmie Handley, outreach coordinator for veteran services. “Here there are so many wonderful people that are at this university that during aftermath went and sacrificed to ensure that you all could be here doing what you’re doing now. And do it in a loving, friendly way.”
Feature image shot by Frances Inwood.
