College Republicans remember Sept. 11

Students and faculty recorded messages of thanks to the troops.

By Brad Fischer

Published Sept. 14, 2007

With a theme of "never forget," the College Republicans helped the university remember the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The group set up 911 miniature American flags, which spelled out "9-11," on Carnahan Quadrangle for the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

The group had a table on the corner of Missouri and Conley avenues, and members handed out stickers that stated "I didn't forget September 11th," as well as pins and posters reading "Never forget 9-11."

They also handed out 500 miniature American flags in about two hours, group member Justin Smith said.

Besides remembering the terrorist attacks, the group also had a camcorder to record messages of thanks from students and faculty to the troops serving overseas.

Freshman College Republicans member Michael Cates said he recorded a message to tell the troops how much he appreciates what they are doing.

"I just wanted to show my support," Cates said. "I don't think they get enough support from home."

Forty-eight people recorded thank-you messages, said graduate student Jeremy Hagen, who worked at the group's table on Tuesday.

The messages will be posted on YouTube.com as well as burned to DVD and mailed to troops overseas.

None of the materials distributed by the College Republicans had any party or political candidate affiliation, Hagen said. "Our view is that we wanted to do something non-partisan to honor those who died and to thank those who served," Hagen said.

College Republicans Vice President Marcus Bowen said the group put on the event, but does not view it as an avenue for political gain.

"Its not just a Republican thing, its an American thing," Bowen said. "We had people of all political persuasions and no political persuasion stopping by and thanking the troops."

It took 12 volunteers about 45 minutes to set up the display on Tuesday night, Smith said.

Smith said several Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and American Legion posts across the state, as well as individual donors, donated the miniature American flags.

He said one individual donor gave the group 700 flags.

In past years, the group has held a candlelight vigil in addition to the flag display.