Plymouth State University students paid their respects to a solemn day in U.S. history on Thurs. Sept. 11.
Student Body Vice President Andrew Lewensohn coordinated the memorial, which included student speakers, witnesses to the catastrophic events and the local fire department.
Lewensohn, a New York City metro area native, worked with student senate as well as other members when planning the event.
“I came up with the idea for the event while in [a meeting] [Dean] Keefe asked if there was anything planned for the day, and at the time, there wasn’t,” Lewensohn said.
“From there I got in touch with campus ministry,” Lewensohn said. Kathy Tardif from Campus Ministries was the first to speak at the memorial service. Tardif spoke about the meaning of 9/11 and the impact it has on Americans even to this day.
Lisa Busch, a PSU Senior, grew up on Long Island. Busch spoke about being a freshman in high school on the day of the attacks, and her unique experience of being so close to the city, “I remember they shut off the internet and televisions,” Busch said. Regardless of the school’s efforts to shield the students from the events of the day, the damage could be seen by looking out the cafeteria windows, “I could see the skyline from the cafeteria,” Busch said.
Most of the speakers at the service had personal connections to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Preston Fuller, of campus ministries, arrived at the devastation now known as ground zero shortly after the attacks. Despite seeing the ugliness of hate first hand, Fuller still emphasized the need for us to take responsibility for our actions and live life determined to make each day positive, “Everyday we make a choice about what is going to get us through the day,” he added, “is it going to be fear? Selflessness? Or are we going to choose community, service, hope and love?”
Fuller worked as a volunteer in New York, and shared a story in which he witnessed the importance of relying on one another. He recalled an incident where two steel workers had been working for forty-eight hours sifting through the debris. One of the steel workers had lost a brother in the attack, and was determined to find him. “These two huge steel workers than broke down in tears,” Fuller said.
Deputy Lieutenant from the Plymouth Fire Department Tom Morrison’s speech highlighted the tremendous sacrifices made by FDNY and others who joined the effort in the days after the attacks. He took extra time to explain the connections between the Plymouth Fire Department and New York City Fire Department. In the past, both former PSU students and Plymouth Fire Department personnel have joined the ranks of the New York City Department.
Morrison also spoke of the universal desire of Fire personnel to “make a grab,” or save the life of a complete stranger. “Public safety servants gave their lives for complete strangers,” Morrison said of the 343 members of the New York City Fire Department who lost their lives following the collapse of the towers.
The bells in Rounds Hall chimed at 12:35 p.m. and Heather Jacques, a PSU sophomore, sang the National Anthem to close the ceremony. As part of an originally unplanned ending, Adjunct English Professor Mark Flynn released seven white doves over the Alumni Green. “It was a surprise. He came up to me and offered to release doves at the end,” Lewensohn said.
The ceremony was held during a busy time on campus. Through out the service, Students and faculty alike shuffled through campus on their way to and from class. Most traveling students stopped, if just for a minute or two, then continued on his or her way.
“I received comments from people saying it was very moving,” Lewensohn said, he added, “It went very well.”