Ceremony to mark 20 years since 9/11

The University of North Georgia (UNG) will mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with a remembrance ceremony at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 9 on the William "Lipp" Livsey Drill Field.

The Student Government Association (SGA) and the Corps of Cadets have organized this year's event, which is the continuation of a tradition started by a spontaneous vigil held hours after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"We as SGA understand the significance of this anniversary, especially in recognition of recent global events," Gina Diodati, SGA's vice president for UNG's Dahlonega Campus, said. "So we want to showcase the importance of unifying to face a common adversity, and how important it is to cultivate community and strengthen alliances."

UNG also will fly 20 American flags on the dining hall balcony the week leading up to Sept. 11 to mark the years since the attacks and honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed that day.

Canadian Armed Forces Lt. Col. Paul Doucette will be the keynote speaker and reflect on the partnership between the U.S. and Canada in the aftermath of 9/11. Many U.S. flights diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, that day. Doucette was part of the effort to help take care of those Americans until they could fly home.

"The story of U.S. flights being diverted to Canada on 9/11 is a story that many aren't aware of," Dr. James Conneely, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, said. "It's also a perfect testament to the partnership and relationship between the U.S. and Canada."

The anniversary of Sept. 11 brings back vivid memories for retired Maj. Richard Neikirk, assistant commandant of cadets at UNG. He held the same role in 2001 and was with retired Col. Tom Palmer, then commandant of cadets, when his wife called to tell him about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. Minutes later, Neikirk and Palmer were watching news coverage in Memorial Hall gym with the women's basketball team. All saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center.

Neikirk said the players looked to Palmer and him for answers because they were in uniform. He will never forget when one of the players asked, "Maj. Neikirk, are we going to be OK?" Students were concerned UNG might be attacked because of its status as a senior military college.

Neikirk realized the U.S. was at war once the second plane hit, and that meant many of UNG's cadets were bound for combat operations in short order.

"We've had a lot of alumni who went and fought. We've had some that didn't come home, and it's sad," Neikirk said. "That's why we have that marker on the Memorial Wall to honor their service."

Retired Col. Joseph Matthews, now UNG's commandant of cadets, was the company commander for the 10th Mountain Division of the Army in Fort Drum, New York, on 9/11. Soon after, his unit deployed to Afghanistan. To this day, he sees the impact of Sept. 11 on how Americans view service.

"The good that came out of 9/11 was that it galvanized support for the military and first responders, realizing what service looks like," Matthews said. "As a profession of arms, we have to maintain that trust. We have to work at it all the time."