Memories burn on
By Victoria Shelor, contributing writer
Posted on September 14, 2006

Students gathered in Grafton-Stovall Theatre to remember and reflect on the tragedies that befell the United States five years ago.

Standing before a depiction of the Statue of Liberty holding a book entitled “Never Forget,” speakers commemorated Sept. 11 on the fifth anniversary with a common theme of the importance of acceptance.

“The people of America became united in a very significant way,” JMU President Linwood Rose said. “While there is a tendency to be cautious and even suspicious of other cultures, we have a responsibility to act differently.”

Rose encouraged the audience not to be enveloped by bitterness and anger, but to celebrate unity.

“We should not be suspicious of differences, but instead build bridges between cultures.”

President of the Muslim Student Association senior Samier Mansur, named Sept. 11 the “trauma of our generation.”  Though shocking and distressing, Sept. 11 saw a “triumph of the human spirit,” Mansur said.

“A beautiful moment emerged when we put aside our differences for once to mourn,” he said.  Mansur encouraged the audience to reflect back on that harmony felt five years ago.

“We must ask ourselves, what will the legacy of 9/11 be?” he said. “Let it be a legacy of hope.”

Guest speaker Captain Roberta Lavin of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stressed the importance of emergency preparedness as a national issue. 

“From an academic perspective, students can apply technical skills to respond to disasters and emergency situations,” Lavin said.  Technical skills including scientific, doctor and nursing skills would help those around us when these situations occur, she said.

“Your first responder is going to be the person sitting next to you, so it is important for the entire community and school to learn basic first aid,” she said.

Lavin also reiterated that promoting hate or fear does not prevent terrorism, and that people should instead appreciate people’s differences in order to have a greater understanding of our brothers and sisters of the world.

The coordinator of the event, senior Michael Dreyfuss ,then invited the audience to the commons for a candlelight vigil where students remembered the lives lost in the terrorist attacks.

Most students remember exactly where they were when they received the news that two planes crashed into the twin towers.

Junior Rebecca Dixon recalled watching the events on television at school in disbelief.  “My first thoughts were ‘everybody’s getting out of the buildings, right?’” she said.

A tearful freshman, Emily Weidner, said, “Many people didn’t even know what the trade centers were, but we knew something big had happened.”  Seeing the footage on Sept. 11, Weidner initially thought it was a movie, not reality.

Student Body President Brandon Eickel was pleased with the turnout and glad to offer the event. “I appreciate that people cared enough to come out tonight for the fifth anniversary,” he said. “I see how people were personally affected, and I’m glad that this event allowed them to remember and reflect.”