It seems like everyone remembers where they were when the planes hit the towers. The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon resounded throughout the world, affecting billions by causing death, destruction and tragedy. Even today, the aftermath of the catastrophe is still felt by individuals all over the world.
Friday afternoon in UB's Student Union, Dennis Black, Vice President for University Life and Services, lead an observance recognizing the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Black spoke to the individuals who came to pay their respects and honor the brave men and women lost that day, 11 of which were UB alumni. The names of each alumni and their graduating class was read aloud and the memorial bell rang through the Student Union 11 times for each graduate of UB.
It's rare for the crowded Student Union to be as silent as it was when the bell tolled, honoring the memory of the brave souls that perished. From 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., the bell stood in the middle of the SU for anyone to ring and commemorate the anniversary of one of the most devastating attacks in American history.
After Black's speech, he invited members of the audience to honor and pay their respects by ringing the memorial bell themselves. Students, teachers, school officials and members of the Buffalo community lined up to personally honor their loved and lost ones. The room was silent and courteous as each person paid their respects.
One of the speakers was Kerry Spicer, a member of Student Life. To her, ringing the bell was perfect symbolism.
Andrew Levine, a junior engineering major, was one of the many students that stood in honor as he watched the memorial bell toll again and again. Levine recalls where he was when the towers fell.
"I was in elementary school in the Bronx," Levine said. "The way they [told me] was so nonchalant, I guess I didn't understand the severity of it."
The attacks had a strong impact on Levine and his family.
"[My uncle] was in the first tower that got hit. He was going to get coffee and bagels down the block and at that time. The place was packed and as he was coming back he actually saw the plane hit the tower. In a matter of 10 minutes he saw people jumping out, he heard the bodies smashing against the ground," Levine said.
Yining Zang, a junior electrical engineering major and an international student from China, stood in attendance to honor the fallen. Even over 7,900 miles away, the destruction of the towers resonated with Zang. He had a family friend living in New York at the time who told him of the absolute chaos.
"[My friend] had to take the Brooklyn Bridge to get from lower to upper Manhattan," Zang said.
Also present was an American flag donated by UB Alumni and the New York City Fire Department Captain, Steven Spall in 2002. Spall had flown the flag over the World Trade Center Recovery Site after the terrorist attacks, and it hung behind the bell, serving as a reminder of the nation's ability to stand together against forces of destruction.
Having the remembrance event gave UB the opportunity to come together as a community to mourn and honor the lives lost.
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