Three thousand tiny American flags representing each person who gave his or her life in the attacks lined the sidewalks surrounding the pathways of Central Campus last night for Iowa State’s “9/11 Decade of Remembrance.”

Patriotic music played to a slideshow of the iconic twin towers as students, community members and pets filtered in to remember Sept. 11, 2001. White candles were passed out to all in attendance for lighting at the end of the ceremony.

Megan Wiley, senior in chemistry, was a student in attendance. She said it was “important to remember 9/11 and recognize those service men and women who gave their lives.”

“My dad is in the Army and my fiance is in the Air Force ROTC. I am here to support both of them,” Wiley said. “Central Campus is a great place to honor those who gave their lives in the attack. Because it is such a central place on campus, it is encouraging for both students and community members.”

The Iowa State University Cyclone Football “Varsity” Marching Band played the national anthem to start the memorial.

Dakota Hoben, president of the Government of the Student Body, spoke during the event.

“I still remember where I was on Sept. 11. Still today, we don’t understand why that had to happen,” he said.

GSB Vice President Jared Knight said a few words after Hoben.

“There has not been a day that has evoked more emotion or severed as a greater call to action than that day,” Knight said.

Jesse Larson, campus minster of Collegiate Presbyterian Church, offered a multi-faith prayer for the audience emphasizing that we are all humans serving for the betterment of humanity.

As the evening fell and the memorial continued into the night, two search lights, similar to those that highlighted the twin towers at ground zero in New York City, became more and more apparent to the audience, creating a beautiful triangle with the Campanile in the center.

Students were invited to come and share their experiences from 10 years ago with the attendees. Students recounted the events as they remembered them. Memories ranged from being in third grade to 10th and all students urged each other to remember the fallen and understand that it’s not about race, creed or country of origin. Sept. 11, 2001, was a time of great sorrow for the United States of America and the blame should not be focused on a particular group.

Lisa Heddens, Iowa state Representative from the 46th District, started off saying she “did not come to speak about political parties, but as a mother, sister, daughter, aunt, American.” She recounted her experience on that fateful day, ending by saying, “I hope that we always remember the acts of heroism of 9/11.”

Sen. Jack Whitver recalled that he was preparing for the big Iowa-Iowa State game the week of 9/11. He shared that “it is a much bigger world, than ‘the big game.’ On Sept. 11, there were no Democrats, no Republicans. We were Americans.”

City of Ames Mayor Ann Campbell thanked the students for involving the city in such a momentous event. She shared that this night was a time to “take a break for everyday and to take time to sit back and reflect mentally and emotionally.”

“In Ames, 9/11 did and still does have an impact,” Campbell said.

She mourned the death of Ames’ Tim Haviland, who was killed in the attacks.

Terry Mason, assistant vice president for student affairs, remembered that “even those in Iowa felt the shock.”

He recalled that the number of visits to the counseling center increased after the attacks, explaining that in “such an unprecedented event like 9/11, it takes time to make sense of it all.”

“It is significant that this Day of Remembrance is run by students. Most of the undergraduates don’t remember a time when there were no troops on Iraq, there was no Homeland Security, and this may feel like the norm,” Mason said.

The keynote speaker, Col. Craig Bargfrede, commended all the students who shared their personal experiences with the audience.

“The events changed our country. Sept. 11 has shaped our lives and ourselves,” Bargfrede said. “I believe that what shocked us the most was that our way of life was attacked.”

He explained that our way of life that allows us to have different religions and freedom of speech was attacked.

Bargfrede closed by asking, “Let us resolve to never forget and to remain true to freedom and democracy.”

The program ended in silent remembrance. Students held lit candles and followed the American flag path through Central Campus as taps was played.