Mason community reflects on 9/11, gathers for evening vigil

Recognizing the tenth anniversary of 9/11, more than 1,000 students joined together Sunday evening for a candlelight vigil near the North Plaza clock tower.

Students gathered near the North Plaza clock tower last night for a vigil in remembrance of 9/11. (Jake McLernon)

The vigil began at 9 p.m. with a speech by SG Chief of Staff Alex Williams and remarks by Mason President Alan Merten. Mason student, Brandon Showell, sang “The National Anthem” at 9:08 p.m. followed by a moment of silence at 9:11 p.m. Students then joined in reading a poem before walking to the George Mason statue to lay their candles at his feet.

Members of Student Government along with the Office of University Life organized the event.

Allyson Bowers, SG Student Body President, said University Life had contacted her to see what, if any, memorial events were being held on campus.

“When I realized nothing was planned, I asked my [SG] leadership team how they would feel about taking on the task of planning an event of this scale on such short notice,” Bowers said. “We all realized that this day could not pass by without some recognition from the Mason community.”

Prior to the event, many students shared personal stories of where they were and what they remember from the solemn day, ten years ago.

“This [vigil] is unique, due to the simple fact that everyone was impacted by the events which occurred on 9/11 in different ways,” Bowers said.

“I was in the fourth grade and we were watching the news in our class when an announcement came over the intercom to turn off all the televisions in the school,” said Mike Jordan, a Mason sophomore. “We were essentially on lockdown – no one was allowed to leave.”

Junior Michael McKenney remembers being a confused 11-year-old kid when 9/11 occurred.

“I visited my grandfather at his apartment in Rosslyn and we went up to the roof of his building. We could see the Pentagon from where he lived and there was black smoke rising from the wreckage. At the time I didn’t realize how serious it all was,” McKenney said.

Sophomore Amanda Smith, also representing Alpha Xi Delta sorority at the event, remembers sitting in her fourth grade class when they received news of the tragedy.

“I was living down in Georgia at the time and all I could think about was my family living up here [in DC] and hoping everyone was okay. Unfortunately my uncle, Lt. Col. Gary Francis Smith, did not survive the attack on the Pentagon,” Smith said.