Media Advisory: Washington University students plant flags in honor of 9/11

WHAT: Members of the Washington University in St. Louis College Republicans will plant American flags to honor the 15th anniversary of 9/11.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10

WHERE: Mudd Field on the Danforth Campus of Washington University in St. Louis.

MORE INFO: College Republicans President Ruben Schuckit at rschuckit@wustl.edu or 317-750-3928. 

09.11.14 - 2977 American flags in memory of each life lost on September 11, 2001 on Mudd Field. James Byard / WUSTL Photos
American flags planted in 2014 in memory of each life lost on September 11, 2001 on Mudd Field. (James Byard /Washington University)

In commemoration of the 15th anniversary of 9/11, members of the Washington University in St. Louis College Republicans will plant 2,977 flags — one for each victim of the deadly attacks — on the Danforth Campus’ Mudd Field beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. The flags will remain on view through Monday, Sept. 12.

Ruben Schuckit, president of College Republicans, said the third annual tribute is a reminder of the scale of the day’s devastation.

“Many of us were too young on 9/11 to understand what happened,” said Schuckit, who was a kindergarten student in Indianapolis on the day of the attacks. “But when we see Mudd Field covered in American flags, we see the magnitude of 9/11 and how it forever changed our nation.”

Schuckit said last year’s event had a powerful impact on him, and hopes observers will have a similar reaction this year.

“With each flag placed came a moment of reflection for a life lost forever,” said Schuckit, a junior majoring in computer science in the School of Engineering & Applied Science. “It was a profoundly solemn act.” 

Washington University also will lower the American flag and ring the bells of Graham Chapel 15 times at 9:28 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, the moment the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.

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