Sept. 11 Memorial Ceremony Honors Heroes on Campus

The sacrifices made and patriotism exhibited by true heroes 11 years ago today was honored on the steps of Old Main at a Sept. 11 Memorial Ceremony. 

Flags were flown at half-staff as the Penharmonics sang the National Anthem and the men and women who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City, in Washington, DC and in Shanksville Pa., in the first attack on American soil in nearly four decades. 

There were 10 Penn Staters who lost their lives in the attacks. 

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff addressed the crowd standing outside Old Main, which included servicemen. He recalled the day 11 years ago when, trying to get into the Pennsylvania Capitol building in Harrisburg, found out what happened. 

‘We have to defeat hate,’ he said. 

Ben Garelick, a New York native and Penn State student, held a flag that was given to his father, one of the first responders. He and his father lost three friends on Sept. 11 – one, a firefighter and US Army Captain Garelick said he spent his young life looking up to. 

‘He served as a role model for me, even before then. And even more, now,’ Garelick said. ‘Overall, these are men that I believe that each one of us should remember every day. I have them in my thoughts. 

‘And not just these men, but the hundreds of others who gave their lives that day and the thousands more civilians who lost their lives. They will remain in our hearts and in our minds every day.’