Grand Valley community to honor 20th anniversary of 9/11

Twenty years ago, hundreds of GVSU students, faculty, staff and community members gathered around the Cook Carillon Tower on September 11 to listen to President Mark A. Murray speak after news broke about the terrorist attacks in New York and Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.

To mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, current students and community members will come together to reflect on the effect this event had not only on the local community, but on the entire country. 

GVSU’s Student Senate is partnering with multiple student groups on campus to place a flag memorial on the Kirkhof lawn beginning at 7 a.m. There will be 2,977 flags; each flag will represent a person who died in the attacks.

“Student Senate’s annual 9/11 Flag Memorial is about students from all areas of the GVSU campus community coming together to recognize and commemorate something bigger than us,” said Eldon Pearson, vice president of public relations for Student Senate.

Before the home football game scheduled for the same day, the Laker Vets will host a tailgate in honor of those affected by the attacks. The tailgate is at 5 p.m. in the practice field near Lubbers Stadium.

At the game, Student Senate will host a letter-writing table in Lot C North from 4-7 p.m., where GVSU students can write thank-you letters to veterans.