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| "We Remember" was the title for the talk presented by President Luis M. Proenza on Sept. 11. |
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More than 1,500 members of the campus community gathered near the front steps of the College of Arts & Sciences building under sometimes cloudy skies on Sept. 11 as the University paused to remember all the victims of Sept. 11, 2001 — those lost in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and Flight 93.
At 10:05 a.m., the bells of 500 churches in Summit County rang in unison and city and county fire departments sounded sirens for one minute to honor those lost in the collapse of the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
After a moment of silence, University President Luis M. Proenza spoke briefly and several guests shared readings for the occasion. The University of Akron Brass Choir under the direction of Tucker Jolly, and guitarist Adam Sarata, performed musical selections. At 10:28 a.m., the time of the North Tower collapse, the bells and sirens sounded again for one minute, followed by a minute of silence.
The University’s morning remembrance program concluded with the playing of “Taps” and the ROTC Honor Guard retiring the colors.
Speakers for the program were Coleen Curry, assistant dean, University College; Suneel Batula, graduate student in polymer science; Sarah Hoge, president, University Program Board; Chad Cunningham, University Police; and Christine Morrison, a 12-year-old from North Canton, who read her poem to “Dear Abby,” titled “The Dust of September,” which was published in newspapers on Sept. 11.
A second remembrance service, titled “To Unite, Remember and Honor,” began as darkness fell on Buchtel Common. More than 500 students, University faculty and staff, and members of the community gathered to hear speakers, music, a performance by The University of Akron Gospel Choir and participate in a candle-lighting ceremony, all in memory of the Sept. 11 victims.
Afterward, many attending the service walked down to the oval in front of the Goodyear Polymer Center, where “343 Down” was displayed. Robert Huff, an associate professor of art, designed the flashlight exhibit to honor all the firefighters who died at the World Trade Center. Huff used the flashlights to symbolize the light that went out in each lost firefighter’s family.
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| More than 500 people participated in the University's evening remembrance program on Sept. 11 and joined in the lighting of "343 Down," designed in memory of the firefighters lost in the collapse of the World Trade Centers. |
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Members of the audience turned on the 343 flashlights and they remained lit until the batteries burned out.
Serving on the coordinating committee for Sept. 11 events were Marlesa A. Roney, vice president for student affairs and committee chair; Michael Dalton, president, Associated Student Government; Marling “Newt” Engle, assistant chief, University Police; Christopher Henderson, president, NAACP; Chris Kandus, assistant director, Gardner Student Center; Juanita K. Martin, director, Counseling, Testing and Career Center; Ron McDonald, assistant dean of students; David Osterland, associate vice president for community relations; Bruce Vernyi, senior public relations representative, Department of Institutional Marketing; and John Zipp, chair, Department of Sociology.
A text of President Proenza’s remarks, as well as the readings from the morning remembrance program, are available by clicking on the links below.
President Luis M. Proenza's September 11th MessageReadings from September 11th, 2002
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