Local universities honor Sept. 11, Katrina victims

Local universities honor Sept. 11, Katrina victims

by Staff Writer
Richmond.com
September 09, 2005

On the fourth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the University of Richmond will hold a remembrance ceremony on campus. Also on Sunday, Virginia Commonwealth University will hold a vigil for victims of Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina.

UR, which lost four alumni and numerous parents and friends in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington - will hold the remembrance ceremony Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m.

The observance will begin at Gumenick Quadrangle, where four stone benches memorialize the alumni killed at the World Trade Center. The Freedom Flag created in remembrance of all killed in the attacks will fly at half staff while The Rev. Dr. Daphne Burt, university chaplain, offers a blessing. A bell in Boatwright Tower carillon will repeatedly toll four times, in memory of both the four alumni and the thousands of other victims.

Burt will then lead a silent procession to Cannon Memorial Chapel for closing remarks and invite participants to stay for the regularly scheduled Sunday campus worship service at 3:16 p.m.

The observance is sponsored by the University of Richmond student chapter of Americans for Informed Democracy. The widows of the four alumni have been invited to attend. For more information, contact the university’s Office of the Chaplaincy at (804) 289-8500.

The Student Government Association of Virginia Commonwealth University will host a candlelight vigil Sunday to remember the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and to honor those who have died or are suffering because of Hurricane Katrina.

The vigil will begin at 7 p.m. at the Student Commons Plaza at 907 Floyd Ave. Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend the event. The vigil has been held each of the past three years on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Edward O’Leary, president of the SGA, said the Sept. 11 vigil has brought a diverse group of people together from around campus in past years. He said the decision to incorporate a remembrance of the victims of Hurricane Katrina into the event was an easy one.

"There really seemed to be a lot of interest in combining the vigil we’ve had in the past with what has happened with Katrina," O’Leary said in a statement. "A lot of people have already shown interest in participating in the event this year, and I think there will be a large crowd."

O’Leary will open the vigil with some introductory remarks. Then, a series of VCU students in the English department will read poems that reflect on the tragedies. VCU President Eugene P. Trani will then offer some closing thoughts.

O’Leary said the vigil will focus on the positive works people have done in response to the Sept. 11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina and will use the theme of "Neighbors Helping Neighbors."