Although most were too young to remember the terrorist attacks of 9/11, members of the TCU chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom gathered early Sunday at the Founder’s Statue to place flags in honor those killed.
The 9/11 Never Forget Project is sponsored by YAF. About 260 high schools, colleges and universities throughout the nation participate. This means a total of about 9.7 million American flags will be placed on the various campuses.
“I think it shows that as a TCU student body we care for others and we pray for the lives lost,” said Julia Zellers, public relations chair for YAF. TCU’s YAF chapter has been honoring this project since 2012.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks killed an estimated 3,000 people as operatives with al-Qaeda hijacked and crashed four flights that morning. American Airlines Flight 11 and United Flight 175 crashed into the Twin Towers carrying 81 and 56 passengers, respectively. American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon with 58 passengers. United Airlines Flight 93 plowed into an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania with 37 passengers.
2,977 American flags were placed in front of the Founder’s Statue to honor the lives lost on 9/11. (Sam Bruton / TCU360)
Members of the Young Americans for Freedom organization place flags at the Founder’s Statue. (Sam Bruton / TCU360)
YAF provided the 2,977 miniature American flags and the sign that accompanies them. Students at Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, and Texas Tech University also participated.
Cameron Kawato, president of YAF, said this event is important to him because they’re observing how many innocent lives were lost.
“I think we are doing them an honor by remembering them,” he said.
Paige Losack, sophomore YAF member, said that it is easy to forget since many were so young when 9/11 took place.
“Now that we are older we are able to really look at this and reflect and understand what it means,” she said.
