The first thing many students visiting Stevens notice is the view of the New York City skyline, specifically the view from Babbio Patio. However, this view was significantly different 20 years ago. Then, on what many thought would be a typical Tuesday, the view—and the fate of the modern world—changed forever.
While the view of the Freedom Tower from Babbio may stand out on most days, on September 11, it matters not what building stands tallest in Manhattan. Rather, on this day every year, we remember the lives lost and those forever changed. Et ex cinere surgimus: through the ashes we rise.
Stevens’ Memorial
A crowd gathered outside of Babbio. In the background, Fantasie No.1 Largo, performed by Carter Rosen ‘23 on the violin, played. At 9:30 a.m., the bagpipes rang out, beginning with You’re A Grand Ole Flag and worked their way through the military marching songs. Then came the presentation of the colors by Air Force ROTC officers. All the while, the New York City skyline stood tall in the background as if to beckon the attention of the crowd.
From the opening words delivered by Chief of Campus Police, Tim Griffin, to the somber memorial walk to Castle Point Terrace Memorial, the audience at Babbio reflected on the everlasting impact 9/11 has had on the global landscape. Two individuals I spoke to were Zoey Cook ‘23 and Clare Fitzgerald ‘24, both members of the Stevens Women’s Lacrosse team who expressed their experiences at the memorial. Cook stated she had always felt connected to 9/11 through the stories her parents had told, but being at the memorial created a greater sense of awareness about the magnitude of the events. She emphasized the importance of one of the keynote speakers being a Stevens student at the time of the attacks, stating that it made the community feel more connected to what had happened. Fitzgerald reiterated the importance of hearing the stories from those who had survived and/or witnessed 9/11, stating that it is key to helping those born after the events to truly understand the gravitas of it all. Fitzgerald went on to state that her mother had worked at the World Trade Center before the attacks, which created an additional connection to the events being observed. Overall, the two students shared their commitment as young Americans seeking to understand and properly acknowledge the events that occurred 20 years ago. Through concerted efforts by students, faculty, staff, and others at the memorial, Stevens came together to remember 9/11 with a standard of respect, honor, and dignity.
Chief Griffin expressed, “There are three days every American remembers where they were when it happened. The first is Pearl Harbor. The second, the JFK Assassination. The third is 9/11. Every World War II Vet told me never to forget Pearl Harbor and now I tell everyone to never forget 9/11.”
He went on to state, “the terrorists did not succeed. Their actions only brought Americans closer together.” After 9/11, Americans were united by love for their country, regardless of economic status, politics, or numerous other divisive factors. The Stevens memorial ceremony embodied this, with students, faculty, staff, and community members of various backgrounds and demographics coming together to pay their respects to those whose lives were taken.
New York City
A massive crowd gathered around the perimeter of the One World Trade Center. Gates blocked off the entry to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Police stood inside the square, talking. Despite the massive crowds packed onto a narrow sidewalk, when a fireman, police officer, or first responder walks by, they part like the Red Sea, revealing respect for the individuals who have dedicated their lives to service.
At around 3:15 p.m., a bagpipe procession began to play, marching through the square towards the reflection pool at the memorial. Soon thereafter, the gates cleared and people poured through the walkway to the memorial. In an instant, the quiet pool flocked with people paying their respects.
Some pushed their way to the front, phone in hand, searching for a perfect picture. Others quietly walked around the perimeter, immersing themselves in the atmosphere. Some laughed, some cried, some talked, others stayed silent. They all had one thing in common: the desire to pay their respects to the fallen.
The smooth black marble at the edge of the pool—etched with the names of victims—soon popped with colors. Flowers and flags were propped up in the etchings as if to bring life back to the fallen.
While the water in the pool certainly is a notable feature, many feel the most striking is the names. Every name was a keystone of a family, a lifelong friend, a mentor, a coach, and much more. Yet there is also some beauty in the names. They are not merely an assortment of 26 random letters; they have meaning to them. Each one brings to mind memories of birthdays, movie nights, dinners, etc. Each name has a story to it, and with the thousands upon thousands gathered, their memories will forever live on.
In Remembrance
According to the Stevens150 website, four Stevens alumni and one former student lost their lives on 9/11. These names we remember: Jerome Lohez M.S. ’95, Edgar Emery Jr. M.S. ’82, Liming Gu ’91 M.Eng. ’93, Joseph Pick M.S. ’02 (who received his degree posthumously), and Timothy Hargrave, previously a member of the Class of 1984.
Many who were alive for the events of 9/11 have a story—where they were, what they were wearing, what they were doing; they are forever ingrained into memories.
While at the memorial in New York, I was able to ask a few people to share their stories about why they decided to come to the event.
A young couple, Luke and Cassandra, both seniors from Marist College in upstate New York, were waiting by the gates for the memorial near me. I was expecting a traditional story of coming to pay their respects, as everyone else was there to do, but what they told me was something different. It was Cassandra’s 21st birthday, and the couple was in New York City to celebrate. They had come from getting lunch and were going to go shopping in the area around the World Trade Center. The magnitude of impact that 9/11 had on this young couple, both of whom were barely born, was incredibly striking. On what would be a full day of celebration for most people—a milestone in life—the couple decided to take the time to pay their respects to the fallen.
The majority of the crowd that was gathered around the memorial appeared old enough to remember the events of 9/11 vividly. Walking next to me, however, were two young women that stood apart from the typical member of the crowd. As it turned out, the two women, Liz and Alexa, were seniors from the University of Alabama who were interning with a fashion company in New York City. When asked why they decided to take the time out of their weekend to visit the memorial, the two said that they felt it was the right thing to do; a way of paying their respects to the fallen. This was a common theme throughout the crowd, but it was incredibly striking to hear it emphasized from such young people who could barely remember the events, if at all. Before wishing them well, I asked what they thought this year, the 20th anniversary, meant. They said that, while 9/11 is important every year, milestone markers such as this memorial have a special significance to them.
Another spectator I spoke to, Aisling, 24, was noticeably emotional as she stood looking out towards the reflection pool. When I saw the tears flowing slowly from her eyes, I wondered if she had lost someone. So I asked her name, if she was okay, and if she had lost someone on that day. Her response was unexpected, to say the least. She told me that her father had lost one of his best friends on 9/11, and that it was her father’s birthday too. She said that her tears were not just for the memory of her father’s friend, but for the reality that her father had lost his birthday forever. Every year, the day is a reminder of what was lost on what should be a celebratory day for her family.
Throughout it all, it is clear that 9/11 is a transcendent day. Politics, religion, race, socio-economic status, and more are pushed aside to come together and honor the memory of the fallen citizens and heroes. It falls upon us, the next generation, to keep the memory and significance alive. Although many of us are too young to remember these events ourselves, the very fact that we take the time to hear the tales and bow our heads in solidarity prove that we are willing to do our part to honor the lives of those we lost on that fateful day 20 years ago.
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