For the last three years, a group of students have set their alarm clocks a few hours early on September 11. This group – members and volunteers of Young Americans for Freedom – convenes on campus in the wee hours of the morning to place 2,977 small American flags in the ground.

“I think this event is important because it is important that we remember all 2,977 lives lost on September 11, 2001. That day changed our nation and our history,” Julia Mirich, junior political science major and president of YAF said.

This project is known as the 9/11 Never Forget Project and branches of YAF participate in it throughout the country. The TCU chapter has been doing it since its conception three years ago.

“Remembering the lives lost on September 11th is not an issue that divides us, but it brings us together where we can share sympathy to those who lost loved ones,” said Dillan Keck, sophomore member of YAF. “We have gotten nothing but compliments as many students and faculty are touched every year.”

This year, YAFF opened the project to student volunteers. They made a Facebook page inviting any student to join them in front of the Founders Statue at 7 a.m. this morning to help decorate.

“I love that the TCU family remembers this day so well,” sophomore criminal justice major Brendan Hartman said. “Seeing all these flags just reminds us how big this event was.”

The flags will be on the lawn in front of the Founders’ Statue until 7 p.m. tonight. Members of YAF are also passing out 9/11 buttons in front of the statue in between classes.

“I don’t think that most college campuses have events like this,” Mirich said. “There are a lot of YAF chapters throughout the nation that host this same event, so I know we are not alone in hosting this. However, I wish that there was something on every college campus across the nation. So many lives were taken and it is important that they never be forgotten.”