” At around 6:45 a.m. on Sept. 11, a small group of students spent the morning placing American flags in the landscape at the corner of Spicer and Buchtel. The University of Akron College Republicans, led by their President Joseph Manno, planted the flags in memory of those who lost their lives eight years ago.”
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At around 6:45 a.m. on Sept. 11, a small group of students spent the morning placing American flags in the landscape at the corner of Spicer and Buchtel.

The University of Akron College Republicans, led by their President Joseph Manno, planted the flags in memory of those who lost their lives eight years ago.

They planted the flags as a visual reminder and hoped that upon seeing the flags both students and faculty would have a new sense of patriotism and civic duty. Each flag represented one life that was lost. In total they planted almost 3,000 flags.

Helping them in their endeavor was Frank LaRose, a 10-year veteran of the U.S. armed services and a candidate for the Ohio senate. I am proud to be here to remember those lives lost, LaRose said.

LaRose, an Akron native, served in Kosovo, Morocco, Oman and Iraq. He was awarded several Army Commendation Medals, a Green Beret and most recently, a Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq.

When talking about the memorial LaRose said, It’s easy just to toss around a number, but when you actually see it it’s different. Each of these flags represents a life.

They had hoped that when students and faculty would pass the flags that morning they would feel a new sense of patriotism and civic duty.

Many people walking by the memorial ceremony that morning had little or no idea what was going on.

Some, even when told, were still confused about the memorial. It is a visual reminder of what happened, Manno said. The day after Sept. 11, everyone had flags flying. We must continue to remember those victims of the attacks.

The College Republicans have been doing this for the past four years.

This is their fifth year placing flags in memory of those who died in the Sept. 11 attacks.

At 8:30 a.m., the College Republicans finished their work. It took them three hours to memorialize lives that took moments to destroy, but will always be remembered.

It is important that we never forget what happened on that day, said Manno.

Call news writer Andrew Shroades:

330-972-7362

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https://www.buchtelite.com

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