CBU observes the 18th anniversary of 9/11
Riverside, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2019) – Hundreds of California Baptist University students, staff and faculty members commemorated the 18th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by placing U.S. flags in the shape of a cross in Stamps Courtyard.
The Associated Students of California Baptist University (ASCBU) organized the event on Sept. 11, honoring the 2,977 people who lost their lives in the collective events known as 9/11.
Throughout the day, members of the CBU community stopped to take a flag and place it among hundreds of others. People knelt, reflected and some said a prayer. Additionally, in the evening there was a time of reflection, worship and prayer offered.
For Rocky Estevez, a theater and political science sophomore, continuing to pray for families affected by 9/11 comes from personal experience.
“My family is from New York so it really hits close to home. That day for my family was scary since my uncle is a flight attendant and my dad actually made a delivery to the Twin Towers 30 minutes before they were hit,” recalled Estevez. “The whole day just hits close to home, which is why I think it is important to lift up these people and their families up today.”
Andrew Zhu, a biomedical engineering junior, stopped by Stamps Courtyard before class to place a flag and remembered the tragic day.
“It’s really important for us to keep in touch with something that commemorates an important day in American history,” Zhu said.
Allie Sutherlin, an early childhood studies senior, said the event helped her to reflect and be thankful for today.
“CBU does a really great job of acknowledging and validating students’ feelings in general. This event makes a public statement that CBU wants to remember those that lost their lives on 9/11,” Sutherlin said.