WVU's Army and Air Force ROTC Cadets will honor the 17th anniversary of the 911 attacks with a 24-hour vigil.
WHO: WVU Army & Air Force ROTC Cadets
WHAT: Cadets will conduct a 24-hour vigil in the quad in front of the WVU Main Library to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States. Shifts of Cadets will continually march around the library quad in memory of the events, which resulted in the Global War on Terrorism including Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. In the past 18 years, dozens of WVU ROTC grads have served honorably overseas in support of these missions.
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 11 (Midnight to -11:59 p.m.). Memorial wreath-laying and the playing of TAPS will commence at 8:46 a.m. to coincide when the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001.The public and University community are invited to attend.
WHERE: Downtown Campus Library, 1549 University Avenue (Quad in front of the library). The wreath-laying will take place beside the WVU 9-11 Monument on-site.
BACKGROUND: Army ROTC is a four-year progressive leadership development program. During classes, leadership labs, physical training and field training exercises, Cadets learn first-hand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups and conduct missions as an Officer in the United States Army. Upon graduation from WVU, Cadets receive a commission as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army on Active Duty, in the Army National Guard, or in the Army Reserve, and become leaders for life.
WVU alums Chris Gray and Jim K. Samuel Jr. were killed in the attacks.
Cadets will be available after the wreath-laying and playing of TAPS to speak with members of the media. The average 18-year-old freshman was barely a year-old at the time of the Sept. 11 attacks.
-WVU-
jd/09/07/18
CONTACT: John Dowling
WVU Army ROTC
304.685-7766; john.dowling@mail.wvu.edu
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