UCF Remembers 9/11 Ceremony attendees placed carnations on the field of remembrance by the Reflecting Pond to honor victims on Friday.
Gabriella Scozzafava
The Office of Military and Veteran Student Success and the John C. Hitt Library hosted events to honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11 on Friday.
Michael Kepner, director of Military and Veteran Student Success, led the fourth annual “UCF Remembers 9/11 Ceremony” at Millican Hall. The office moved the event from Memory Mall to the heart of campus for the first time this year to increase student visibility, Kepner said.
“When we first established this event, our purpose was not to simply remember history,” Kepner said. “It was to ensure future generations understand what happened, understand the human cost and understand the courage and sacrifice that followed. For the large majority of our students, 9/11 is not a memory. It is simply a day in history long before they were born.”
The UCF Police Department, ROTC and Student Government were among those who attended. The ceremony included prayer, a historical overview of the day, guest speakers and singing of the national anthem and “America the Beautiful.”
Daniel Perez, sophomore criminal justice major and Office of Military and Veteran Student Success student worker, attended the event for the first time. He said he hopes to continue to see more outreach to students in future years.
“Whether it affected our lives, our parents’ lives, we all know at least one person that has been affected by this, so it’s always good to remember the lives that were lost that day,” Perez said.
Student Government President Shivani Vakharia and UCF Police Chief Dr. Robin Griffin-Kitzerow spoke at the event and presented a wreath during the ceremony in honor of 9/11 victims.
During her speech, Griffin-Kitzerow shared an emotional anecdote about watching the high school she worked at as a School Resource Officer go quiet on Sept. 11, 2001.
“It stays with you,” Griffin-Kitzerow said. “The sobs of students who related to people who were taken that day.”
At the end of the ceremony, Kepner invited attendees to place a carnation in the field of remembrance set up by the reflecting pond. The field consisted of 500 flags: 343 red flags represented the firefighters lost, 72 blue flags represented the law enforcement officers lost, 55 white flags represented the military personnel lost at the Pentagon and 30 American flags represented all those who were lost on 9/11, Kepner said.
Viewers experience the John C. Hitt Library’s first immersive 9/11 exhibit in the Digital Exploration Center on Friday.
Gabriella Scozzafava
Following the carnation placement, attendees were led to the library for its first immersive exhibit inside the Digital Exploration Center. The exhibit featured a three-part, nine-minute audio, video and photography display telling the story of 9/11 and the aftermath of the day. The first section covered the timeline of events on 9/11, the second part focused on rescue and recovery and the third was dedicated to remembering the lives lost.
Shawn Perry, director of marketing and communications for UCF Libraries, led the initiative. He said he believes the exhibit will help students connect with this piece of history more closely.
“We hope visitors leave with a deeper understanding of the lasting impact of 9/11, and our goal was to create something meaningful enough that they appreciate the courage and resilience Americans showed during that time,” Perry said. “We think an immersive exhibit experience is an effective way to do that.”
Kepner said he hopes people leave the events each year never forgetting the sacrifice that took place on 9/11.
“I truly hope attendees leave the ‘UCF Remembers 9/11 Ceremony’ with a reminder that freedom carries a cost,” Kepner said. “That we remember the lives lost, the courage of the first responders who ran into danger. We remember the passengers and crew of Flight 93 and we remember the military members who answered the call to serve.”