HQ., ~Q.,MQ.,M~Q.,~ Ten Years Later Ten years after America watched the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001, the student body remembered the victims from that day. From Thursday, Sept. 8 until Sunday, Sept. 11, students participated in a memorial weekend organized by the Alumni Relations Office. Pi Sigma Alpha, the international political science honor society, along with the American Studies Institute (ASI), purchased flags from 55 different countries that were placed on the front lawn to symbolize the 381 nonAmerican victims of 9/11. Junior Lacey Bates, who grew up in Australia, recalled the attacks in 2001, commenting that she initially thought she was watching a movie when she saw the plane fly into the second Twin Tower. She immediately began worrying for her family members in America when she learned that the images she saw were actually happening. "I felt like it was a bringing together of my two worlds," Bates said. "I was raised in Australia, but I have family here and live here now. The attacks happened in America, but they affected the rest of the world, as well." As a member of the National Corporation for Community Service, Harding pledged to organize 5,000 documented volunteers to help reach the national goal of 1,000,000 volunteers. Some of these projects included collecting laundry money for local families; taking cookies and thank you notes to firefighters, EMTs and policemen; visiting and thanking veterans at their clinic in town; and restocking pantries at Hope Cottage, a safe haven for women who were victims of domestic violence. To close the memorial weekend, Harding held a patriotic salute and tribute that was open to the public on Sunday evening in the Benson Auditorium. The Arkansas color guard presented the state and national flags to begin the ceremony, and the Thundering Herd marching band performed the national anthem and "God Bless the USA." "I was grateful to be able to use my skill to pay tribute on such a momentous occasion," senior band member Greg Snider said. Several videos portrayed the devastation that occurred, and a special tribute remembered the life of victim Malissa White, who grew up in Bald Knob, Ark., and was killed in the World Trade Center. She was the niece of Harding's Food Service DirectorJudy Hart. Speakers for the event included Mayor David Morris, White CountyJudge Michael lincoln and Greg Manning, a firefighter from New York City who spoke about his experiences on duty when the Twin Towers fell and the recovery effort aftenvard. Students and community members combined forces to offer a truly touching tribute to all who lived and died on that fateful day l 0 years ago, paying respects to the grieving while remembering why they were proud to be American. Laura Chanr.bers Student Life 3 f MWZ
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