U.Va. Events Planned to Mark 9/11 Attack Anniversary

UPDATED, Sept., 11, 2 p.m., to add a third alumnus who died in the Sept. 11 attacks; add that one of the alumni victims’ sons graduated from the University in May; and add photos from today’s events.

UPDATED, Sept. 11, 4:45 p.m., to add a fourth alumnus who died in the Sept. 11 attacks.

UPDATED, Sept. 11, 5:20 p.m., to add a fifth alumnus who died in the Sept. 11 attacks.

The University of Virginia will ring the Chapel bells at 11 minutes past 9 a.m. on Wednesday in commemoration of the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

It’s one of several events organized around the 12th anniversary of 9/11.

Two student groups are sponsoring a Day of Remembrance on Wednesday, the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

At about 9 a.m., members of the Young Americans for Freedom and the Burke Society will begin placing 2,977 flags on the south end of the Lawn, around the Homer statue, to commemorate victims who died in the attacks, said second-year student Anthony Hadford, founder and chair of the U.Va. chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom.

At 8 p.m., the two groups will hold a memorial event in room 125 of Minor Hall, with an ROTC color guard and a speaker from the National Ground Intelligence Center. Following the event, there will be a candle-lit procession to the south end of the Lawn, where there will be a brief ceremony with the color guard, a prayer for the fallen and the playing of “Taps.”

“This is a completely apolitical event,” Hadford said. “I feel that a lot of people have forgotten how close to home this came.”

The attack, in which two hijacked commercial jetliners were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, another flown into the Pentagon in Northern Virginia and a fourth crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, had a major impact on the University. Students, faculty and staff have many connections with Northern Virginia and New York City.

“I think a lot of college students forget the whole scope of the event and how close to home it hit,” Hadford said.

Five U.Va. alumni died in the attacks on the World Trade Center: Glenn Davis Kirwin, class of 1982 and a partner at Cantor Fitzgerald; his co-worker, Douglas Ketcham, class of 1996; A. Todd Ranke, a 1986 graduate of the Darden School of Business, who was with Sandler O’Neill and Partners; Michael J. Cahill, class of 1986, a senior vice president and claims attorney for Marsh & McLennan; and Patrick Sean Murphy, class of 1987 and a vice president at Marsh & McLennan.

Kirwin’s son, Miles, graduated from U.Va. in May.

Also on Wednesday, the Fourth-Year Trustees have a planned a reception in the McIntire Amphitheater from 5 to 6 p.m., with a fire truck and a flag display.

Midshipmen from the Navy ROTC marked the anniversary Sunday with a 5-kilometer run.