Sept. 11 25th Anniversary Remembrance at Benedictine College
The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, happened before students at college today were born, so it is important to tell the story and keep the memory of the victims and sacrifices of first responders alive. President Stephen D. Minnis reflected on that reality in a special ceremony on the Benedictine College campus. It was 25 years ago when terrorists highjacked four jetliners and turned them into massive bombs. Two jets crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, one crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and one crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back and didn’t allow it to reach its target, which is now presumed to have been the Capitol Building. There were 2,977 innocent lives taken that day.
Hundreds of Benedictine College students, faculty and staff gathered around the flagpole in the center of campus to remember those victims and honor those who rushed to help. Numerous veterans were there, along with the Air Force ROTC and firemen, police officers and emergency medical technicians who brought police vehicles and a firetruck.
“When the ceremony is over, I want you to go thank those veterans, go thank those first responders for their service to our country,” said Minnis.
The crowd heard a wonderful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner by Benedictine freshman Anna Rziha as the Air Force Color Guard performed a proper flag ceremony. Deacon Charles Welte, Director of Information Technology at the College, offered a prayer and gave a remembrance talk, having served as an Air Force captain in Washington, D.C. at the time of the attacks.
Welte remembered how the country was united in grief and resolve after the attacks, and is sad to see that 25 years later, we are more divided than ever.
“I do not want to look back 25 years from now and say, ‘we are even more divided as a nation,’” he said. “Make a difference this day. We need to get outside of ourselves. Reach out to someone, maybe it’s the guy or girl in your class that doesn’t seem to have any friends. All you have to do is smile and say hello. Introduce yourself. Maybe it’s the fraternal correction of someone who keeps making the wrong choices. Transformation starts with a decision, your decision to take action. Our culture will be transformed through action and perseverance. St. JoseMaria Escriva said, ‘To begin is for everyone, to persevere is for saints.’ Go be a saint!”
The ceremony took place at Noon during the lunch break. It included thousands of small American flags planted around the Benedictine “B” in the center of campus in remembrance of the victims. The event concluded with Ronan Greuel, a member of the Raven Regiment Marching Band, playing Taps on his trumpet.
Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas. The school is honored to have received a top 10 ranking by U.S. News & World Report, to be ranked in the nation’s 10 most-recommended colleges by The Wall Street Journal, and named one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation by the Newman Guide. It prides itself on outstanding academics, extraordinary faith life, strong athletic programs, and an exceptional sense of community and belonging. Benedictine College is dedicated to Transforming Culture in America through its mission to educate men and women within a community of faith and scholarship.
