Communications

Undergraduate Studies' Military Connected Units Remember the Victims, Survivors, and Heros of 9/11

September 2023

The Office of Veteran’s Success (OVS) and USF’s ROTC units proudly host yearly traditions to commemorate the victims and honor the survivors, first responders, members of the military, and their families on or during the week of September 11, 2001.

On September 9th, the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, the OVS Sarasota-Manatee office, and many volunteers including students, faculty, staff, and the community will be placing 2,977 flags on the campus lawn in front of the Main Rotunda entrance. Each flag represents each life lost during the tragic events that took place on September 11th, 2001, in New York, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania.

The Sarasota-Manatee campus and the OVS will also hold a remembrance for the victims of 9/11 on Monday, September 11th at a new location off campus at the Sarasota National Cemetery in Patriot Plaza at 8:30 a.m.  The event is free and open to the public and will reflect the historic and tragic morning of September 11th, 2001. The event will feature Matt Bruce, a retired New York City fire Training Captain who was assigned to FDNY during the 9/11 attacks, and a few patriotic music performances to honor 9/11 survivors, families, first responders, and the military who work to protect our nation every day.

“The new venue is a perfect backdrop for the Sarasota-Manatee campus and the larger community to remember those who died and the sacrifices made by so many on 9/11 and since that tragic day,” said event organizer Carlos Moreira, the director of campus engagement for veteran success and alumni affairs on the Sarasota-Manatee campus. “We hope members of the USF community and residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties will join us to honor those who died and the first responders, military servicemen and women, and others who responded bravely to the terrorist attacks.”

The USF Army, Naval, and Air Force ROTC units will also honor 9/11 on the morning of September 13th. This annual tradition of students, staff, military, and community members will meet at 5:30 a.m. to hear from Colonel Brian Montgomery then run approximately 3,000 stairsteps to honor each person who lost their life on 9/11 and those who were lost in military operations that followed in the Middle East.

The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony RSVP and agenda can be found at sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/remembrance.