Noon-hour memorial service planned here Monday on the anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks
Students at the University of St. Thomas are planning a noon-hour memorial service for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The service will begin at noon Monday, Sept. 11, at the flagpole in the lower quadrangle of the university’s St. Paul campus. The service, open to the public, is being organized by the All College Council, the student government at St. Thomas.
Throughout the day, 13 large posters with the names, ages and occupations of the Sept. 11 victims will be displayed in a circle around the flagpole. The nearly 3,000 names will include those who died in the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and the passengers and crews of the four airplanes involved in the Sept. 11 attacks.
The service will open with an entrance march played by members of the Minnesota Police Pipe Band, which will be followed by a ceremonious flag-raising by members of the St. Thomas Air Force ROTC Detachment 410.
Following the national anthem, Father Dennis Dease, president of St. Thomas, will lead an opening prayer and the bagpipers will perform “Amazing Grace.”
Father Michael Keating, a historian and professor of Catholic studies, will speak on the strides people have made in the wake of the attacks. Several students will briefly address the topics of hope, inspiration and endurance.
Following a moment of silence, the Minnesota Police Pipe Band will perform an exit march and the ROTC cadets will retire the colors.
Emcees for the program will be student government leaders and seniors Abby Becker, vice president for public relations, and Ann Helpola, vice president for academic affairs.
Light refreshments will be served on the quadrangle following the service. For more information, call student Ryan Weyandt, vice president for administrative affairs for the All College Council and one of the memorial service organizers. His number on campus is (651) 962-6143.
