Events to reflect on, remember Sept. 11

Organizations from the University of North Georgia (UNG) will hold several events on its campuses and online to remember and reflect on Sept. 11, 2001, and its importance in U.S. history.

"Feed the Funnel 9/11 National Day of Service" is an opportunity for faculty, students and staff to help pack thousands of meals for the local community. The event will be held at the Convocation Center at UNG's Dahlonega Campus and runs from 2-7 p.m. Sept. 4. Those who want to help can pick one of four shifts: 2-3 p.m., 3:45-4:45 p.m. or 5:30-6:30 p.m. for meal packing or 6:30-7 p.m. for cleanup.

"We were honored to receive the 911Day.org grant to help host our second Feed the Funnel event at UNG," Mallory Rodriguez, director of student leadership, said. "Honoring 9/11 through service is a powerful way to remember the unity and resilience that emerged from tragedy. By dedicating ourselves to doing good for our community, we ensure that the legacy of those lost lives on in the positive impact we make in our north Georgia community."

The Nighthawk 9/11 Challenge is an individual virtual challenge of climbing 2,071 stairs, representing the 110 floors of the Twin Towers. Participants can be complete the climb between Sept. 4 and Sept. 11. After registering online, participants will receive a confirmation email with a link where they report their completed challenge details and receive a commemorative sticker.

"On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, our nation was attacked, and we would later find ourselves involved in the Global War on Terrorism," retired Lt. Col. James Thomasson, assistant commandant of cadets, said. "It is important that we recognize the significance of this day for a couple of reasons. First, as service members of the armed forces, it reminds us of why we train to fight and win our Nation's battles. We fully dedicate ourselves to protect the freedom and rights that we all enjoy. It is also important that we honor those who lost their lives during the attacks on 9/11. We must never forget the civilian lives that were lost and families that endured the tragic news of losing their loved ones."   

Each of the five UNG campuses will host a Nighthawk 9/11 Remembrance Walk on Sept. 11. The one-mile walk will be a time of reflection and remembrance. Participants will receive a commemorative sticker. 

• Dahlonega: Rec Center, 9-10 a.m.
• Gainesville: Hugh Mills, 9-10 a.m.
• Oconee: Quad, 9-10 a.m.
• Cumming: Lobby, 9-10 a.m.
• Blue Ridge: Lobby, noon to 1 p.m.

The 9/11 Remembrance Vigil will be on the Gen. William "Lipp" Livsey Drill Field at UNG's Dahlonega Campus at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11.

Retired Lt. Gen. James Terry, senior vice president and superintendent of the Cadet Leadership Academy, will serve as the keynote speaker for the vigil.

Throughout his distinguished military career, Terry commanded at every level from rifle platoon leader to theater army. He has led soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines from multiple nations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. He was one of three UNG alumni to command Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, the multinational coalition of military forces with the mission to defeat the Islamic State in parts of Iraq and Syria. After retiring from the U.S. Army in January 2016 at the rank of lieutenant general, he transitioned to the U.S. defense industry, serving as senior vice president for strategy and business development at Cubic Defense since August 2016.

"The events of 11 September 2001 impacted on Americans in unimaginable ways. We must never forget that 2,977 people were killed," Terry said. "Americans of every race, creed and color came together as they answered a call to duty, from first responders, to police, to medical personnel — and let us not forget those Americans aboard Flight 93 who rose up against the terrorists who commandeered that flight and forced the plane to crash in a field outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Uncommon valor was common that day. 9/11 also triggered a multi-decade war — America’s longest war — during which Americans again answered the call and moved forward to do their duty. As we reflect in remembrance of 9/11, we must never let those who sacrificed, nor their families, be forgotten."

Sara Gonzalez, Student Government Association (SGA) Dahlonega Campus vice president, will also speak at this event. SGA is a partner in this event with the Corps of Cadets, among other groups.

"Being able to honor and remember those who lost their lives during this tragic event has been a priority for SGA, especially now that many of the students at the university were born after it happened. With the help of other events prior to the vigil, we seek to raise awareness and make students feel some sort of connection to this event to make sure that we, and future generations, never forget," she said. "I'm honored I can be part of this vigil that memorializes the events of 9/11 and honors the fallen."

Gonzalez is a junior from Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, pursuing degrees in modern languages with a concentration in French language and literature and international affairs with a European concentration.