USU students participate in remembering those who died
Like millions of other Americans, Utah State University students, faculty, law enforcement officials and community members bowed their heads in silence at Wednesday night’s tribute to lives lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks one year ago.
The patriotism of a nation was rekindled in each heart as candles were lit, flags were raised and tears were shed.
USU began its Tribute to Freedom in the Kent Concert Hall of the Chase Fine Arts Center, after which a procession was led to the Quad for a candlelight vigil.
President Kermit L. Hall, Mayor Doug Thompson and Celestial Bybee, president of the Associated Students of USU, spoke during the tribute.
President Hall said liberty and courage as being the most prominent concepts to take from the events of Sept. 11.
“Our individual courage is essential in obtaining our collective liberty,” he said. “Liberty and courage are inter-twined.”
President Hall said although the events of Sept. 11 were tragic, life still goes on and each person needs to do his part in keeping the nation a free country.
“We cannot be simply of the world, but we must be in the world,” he said. “We are a free people, and we intend to stay that way.”
Through tears, Thompson told of the many firefighters and people who stepped in to help on Sept. 11, while putting their lives on the line.
“The call came in and they went out,” he said.
He spoke of the positive results from the attacks, including the formation of the Cache Community Correlations and a better-prepared Cache Valley community in case of emergencies. Those who died in the attacks included two Cache Valley residents and one USU alumnus.
“We must pledge ourselves to be evermore faithful … let peace on Earth begin with us. Shred every bit of hate in our lives,” Thompson said.
Songs of patriotism rang throughout the concert hall as 13-year-old Valerie Harris sang “God Bless America” and the trio Colors sang “Amazing Grace” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Representatives for the American Red Cross, which provided 55,000 volunteers in aid during Sept. 11, were in attendance. Various individuals from Cache Valley donated a total of $21,000 to the cause.
Bryon Smith, American Red Cross chairman, said, “Each of you can make a difference, please volunteer your time.”
Many religious faiths came together in a common purpose. Reverend Ruth Eller Vicar of St. John’s Episcopal Church gave the opening prayer, and Dean Quayle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave the closing prayer.
Following the tribute, everyone headed to the Quad for a candlelight vigil. Lining the walkway were 15 fire trucks, three ambulances, nine police cars, two police motorcycles, various law enforcement officials, and nearly 100 flags from countries around the world being held up by USU students.
Heidi Coulsey, an undeclared junior, held the flag for Jordan.
“It’s really cool to take part in remembering all the people that have died because of the attacks,” she said.
Opening the vigil, Bybee spoke of her feelings about terrorism and her experiences from traveling to Israel over the summer. She noticed terrorism as an everyday thing in the lives of people there and how fortunate people are to live in the United States.
“Beating terrorism is living our lives to the fullest,” she said.
Bybee lit the first candle.
Then hundreds of candles lit up around the Quad, representing the unity each student, community member and citizens of the United States hopes to gain from the memory of Sept. 11 ingrained in their minds.
Some in attendance cried as they watched the World Trade Tribute film put together by ASUSU. It showed the day of the attacks and expressed the emotions felt and how it affected students and faculty at USU.
Bob Goodwin, engineer paramedic from the Logan City Fire Department, said, “It is really neat to see the unity of the student body and the whole nation, and I hope it will stay that way for years to come.”
-mmackay@cc.usu.edu
ASUSU Family Life Senator Andrea Ekins keeps her candle lit during the candlelight vigil movie Wednesday night. (Photo by Zak Larsen)