WVU Army and Air Force ROTC cadets will recognize the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a 24-hour vigil in front of the Downtown Library from 8 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 11) to 8 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 12).
Cadets will stand post in front of a memorial wreath beside a bronze plaque adjacent to Clark Hall marking the events of that fateful day.
At 8:46 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 11), the cadets will pause their marching and a ceremonial “Taps” bugle call will be played to recognize American Airlines Flight 11, which was the first hijacked aircraft to strike the World Trade Center’s South Tower in New York City.
“Taps” will be played by Mountaineer Marching Band member Joshua Lugo Zambrano, a sophomore music major from Chantilly, Virginia.
Army and Air Force cadets began the 24-hour vigil in 2002 to recognize the personal sacrifices of the thousands of members of the military who deployed to defend American interests after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Those efforts continue today around the world.
In the past two decades, hundreds of WVU Army and Air Force ROTC graduates, as well as hundreds of student Veterans, have served honorably around the world in support of these missions.