Don’t Allow The Left To Make September 11 ‘Just Another Day’

Don’t let the Left use the 15th remembrance of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, to promote its politically correct, multicultural agenda. Young America’s Foundation launched the 9/11: Never Forget Project in 2003 when we noticed that most college and high school campuses were doing little, if anything, to remember those murdered by radical islamists. September 11 impacted and forever changed our entire country, yet liberals and the Obama administration have tried to sanitize the anniversary by turning it into another day of “national service.” Those who lost family members and loved ones are aghast that there are those in this country who want to remove all meaning from the anniversary. Vincent Forras, a firefighter at the World Trade Center who was buried under rubble for two hours and survived, expressed why it is so important that young people are reminded of what took place on that day. “I believe that there is so much piled up against us at our nation’s schools and it is through organizations such as [YAF] and experiences such as mine…that we can succeed in leveling the playing field. My story is one of both the Greatest Tragedy and the most blessed and wonderful outcome which we can choose to cultivate after such a disaster. The story brings folks of all religions, parties, ages, and beliefs together for a brief moment in time, similar to what was experienced in America immediately after the 9/11 attacks. Remember that time? I do, and it is up to folks like us to tell this story over and over again in a way that wins over those who…had preconceived notions about who we are and perhaps not only get them to join us but to promote us through their peers and more.” You can unite your campus community to properly remember the victims of the terrorist attacks by taking part in Young America’s Foundation’s 9/11: Never Forget Project. We have found a strong program on 9/11 brings positive coverage for clubs and can lead to additional members as well. The following are activities you can plan to properly commemorate those who were murdered by jihadists on September 11. If the anniversary falls on a weekend (like this year), we recommend scheduling the display on the Friday before the anniversary, or if possible, in conjunction with your school’s football game over the weekend of the anniversary. We urge you to prepare an American flag memorial for the anniversary of September 11. Your club will incur relatively minor costs, but the visual impact will leave a lasting impression on all who witness the display.

Make It Happen

Arrange a display of 2,977 American flags to be placed in the ground of your campus, with each flag representing an individual murdered in the terrorist attacks. Allot several hours the night before or very early on the day you plan to set up your flag memorial. Enlist enough club members to help with set-up and tear-down. Select a high traffic area near the student union building, campus quad, or other area frequently visited by students. You will most likely need to attain permission for the display from your student activities or campus life office. You should reserve a table near the display for your members to distribute Never Forget buttons and stickers as well as other resources provided by Young America’s Foundation, and to answer questions about the display and monitor the flags. Proper flag etiquette requires that the American flag be lit at night. If the display is in a high traffic area, lighting should be sufficient. If not, you can purchase outdoor flood lights at a hardware store for minimal cost. You should also do your best to ensure the flags do not touch the ground.

Maximize Your Display’s Impact

Consider the following suggestions and ideas to maximize the impact of your display before moving ahead with your memorial. Pick a field or area on campus that will emphasize, not diminish, the visual impact of your display. Attempting to stretch small flags across a large field reduces the visual impact of your display. It is much better to group the flags close together or select a smaller field that will appropriately hold all of the flags within its borders. Of course, it is also important to pick a high traffic area. Use twine or thread to help align the flags in parallel lines. Jagged or uneven lines will have a less-impressive visual impact. If the ground is hard, flat-head screwdrivers can be used to dig holes for the flags.

Other Ideas To Consider

When preparing your 9/11: Never Forget Project activities, consider incorporating existing infrastructure on campus and in your community to enhance your event, such as a clock tower that could mark a moment of silence at 9:11 a.m. or fountains on your campus that could be used to symbolize the Twin Towers. Recruit and work with other campus groups and community leaders including local churches, synagogues or even mosques, your campus chaplain or campus ministries office, ROTC, Cru, or local police and fire departments. You can read aloud the names of all those from your area who died in the attacks on 9/11, or see if any community members or students lost family members in the attacks and ask them to participate, and request that flags be lowered to half-staff on campus.

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  If you don’t act, students will encounter bizarre alternatives. Your work to establish a memorial to those lost on 9/11 will ensure that your school doesn’t forget what happened on 9/11, or the 2,977 lives that were lost. See the list of school’s already confirmed to participate in the 2016 9/11: Never Forget Project here, and if your school IS participating but isn’t on the list, add it here.