Students and Community Honor 9/11 Victims

Students and Lexington Community Gather to Remember Victims of 9/11
Third annual memorial service places thousands of flags and spotlights passed alumni

The Washington and Lee community recently came together to honor and remember the lives that were lost in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The event was sponsored by Students for Historical Preservation (SHP), College Democrats, and College Republicans.

Students gathered on Cannan Green on Sunday, September 10 around 5:30 PM to plant the 2,977 individual American flags — each flag representing a life lost in the attacks. Dozens of faculty members and students stopped throughout the placing to lend a helping hand.

“I was glad to be a part of it and reflect on what this tragedy means to us as Americans and members of this W&L community.” expressed Ben Hulsey, ‘26, a Virginia native.

Students also placed a row of 79 international flags — each flag dedicated to a country that lost at least one citizen to that day. The list of nations was posted next to the display on a yard sign produced by SHP.

Two additional signs memorialized alumni Robert A. Schlegel, ‘85, and James “Jamie” Gadiel, ‘00, who perished in the attacks on the Pentagon and North Tower, respectively.

(Students place flags on September 10, 2023. Signage to the right of the tent honors two W&L alumni who died in the attacks. Photo – Kamron Spivey, ‘24)

The next day, over 60 students, professors, and community members gathered at the memorial service. Student religious life leader Lily Bishop, ‘26, offered a prayer and moment of silence after a brief introduction by SHP President Kamron Spivey, ‘24.

Following the moment of silence, Connor McNamara, ‘24, president of College Democrats, delivered a speech highlighting why it is essential to remember 9/11. 

“Here, in this memorial and countless others like it being held across the nation,” said McNamara, “we remember the victims of September 11. We refuse to forget them.”

Next to McNamara stood College Republicans president Henry Haden, ‘25.

“We can take freedom for granted each day,” Haden said. “Living a life with freedom is easy. Attaining a life of freedom is not.” Haden continued by stating, “Let us not forget the great sacrifices made to defend our freedom and the eternal, worthy struggle to promote the merits of a free society elsewhere.”

(Connor McNamara, ‘24, (left) and Henry Haden, ‘25, (right) deliver their address to the crowd. Photo - Jess Kishbaugh, ‘24)

Next to speak was Margaret Alexander, ‘24, vice president of SHP.

“Today marks the twenty-second anniversary of that unforgettable day: September 11, 2001. The tragedy itself is not something to celebrate, but nevertheless it is good that we are here together right now to remember it.”

“Never Forget is the phrase we hear this time of year,” Alexander continued, “but what we should be asking is how should we remember 9/11?”

“[M]y hope today is that each of the three memorials can be a source of reflection for how one in the W&L community might remember 9/11,” Alexander said, describing the American flags, international flags, and alumni signage placed the day before.

Alexander concluded her remarks by reading brief biographies of Schlegel and Gadiel.

University musicians closed the ceremony by performing Abendstern by Lauren Bernofsky.

(University musicians perform in front of the flag memorial. Photo – Jess Kishbaugh, ‘24)

“The purpose is to come together,” stated University President William Dudley following the ceremony, “for those of you who were too young to try and appreciate the significance of what happened, even though you weren't there yourselves to observe it.” 

W&L was not the only Lexington college that gathered on September 11 to remember the lives lost. The Virginia Military Institute Corps of Cadets completed a stair climb in the barracks to remember the sacrifices the first responders made that day in the World Trade Center.

Before climbing the stairs, said W&L ROTC student, Robert Mish, ‘25, “we did a prayer that was led by a chaplain that was really nice.”

“We did 37 laps around the barracks which ended up being 111 flights of stairs. There were guys in their volunteer firefighter outfits and people had weighted vests[,]” Mish said.

One Rockbridge County resident who attended W&L’s service suggested that next year the two colleges should collaborate together.

This is the third year that SHP has conducted a 9/11 flag memorial and service, though the international flags and alumni signage was introduced for the first time this September.