As the names of the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001 echoed through the windy Quad this morning, the American flag resisted to stay standing, but Catie Tobin and other members of the Quinnipiac community made sure the flag and themselves did not stay down for long.
Ten years ago, Tobin lost her uncle, John J. Tobin in the World Trade Center attacks. He was inside one of the towers for a meeting, and never returned home.
“It really puts things into perspective for the students here at Quinnipiac,” said Tobin, a junior Biology major. “They forget what happened on that day, but I don’t.”
The Quinnipiac community gathered on the Quad at 10 a.m. this morning for a reading of the names of the lives lost on 9/11 from the faculty and students from multiple campus organizations.
“On this day I am usually with my family, but it was nice to see what Quinnipiac did to honor the lives lost,” Tobin said. “I don’t honor just him, but all who died. I know it is the 10-year anniversary, but it means this much to me every year.”
The three-hour ceremony began with the Knights of Columbus carrying in the American Flag that stood on the steps in front of Arnold Bernhard Library. The five knights from New Haven stood by each name reader as they honored those who died.
Then Executive Director of the Albert Schweitzer Institute David Ives took the microphone. He spoke about three Quinnipiac alumni who were killed in the terrorist attacks on 9/11, their families, and how people from all walks of life died that day.
Ives knows the importance of remembering the lives lost on 9/11 to the Quinnipiac Community.
“A past student of mine lost her father in the attacks and reminded me to remember every year. It is my duty to make sure we do so,” Ives said. “Today reminded us that we are a community here at Quinnipiac.”
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Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Edward Kavanagh read some of the nearly 3,000 names of those who died on 9/11.
“The experience of 9/11 at Quinnipiac was pure confusions and distraught from the faculty and students,” Kavanagh said. “Today brought back that day. We can’t just remember the names from 9/11, but the sorrowful sequence of events that have happened since.”
The reading concluded with a brief message from Ives, “May God bless us and may God bless the United States of America.”
This evening, a candlelight vigil will be held on the Quad, which will include remarks from President John Lahey.
