9/11 Remembrances Being Held at Grossmont, Cuyamaca Colleges

Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges are holding public remembrances of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people and triggered the global war on terror.

The Associated Students  of Cuyamaca College is sponsoring an on-campus display of 2,977 flags, with volunteers from the college, student leaders from Steele Canyon and high schools, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), area police and fire departments and the U.S. Armed Forces setting up the display in the grand lawn starting at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, the day before a community remembrance ceremony set for 12:30 p.m. at the college at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in Rancho San Diego.

The public is invited to also assist with the flag display and to attend the Tuesday afternoon ceremony, where state Sen. Joel Anderson, college President Mark J. Zacovic, student body President Ariel Satele, firefighters from the San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District and officers from the El Cajon station of the California Highway Patrol will speak. The flags, purchased by Associated Students, will remain on display until Friday, Sept. 14.

At Grossmont College, a noontime gathering will take place in the lawn area surrounding an olive tree planted last year at the 10th anniversary of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, VA., and aboard United Airlines Flight 93, where passengers gave their lives to thwart a planned crash into the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

The Grossmont College campus will have a moment of reflection at noon Sept. 11 and everyone will be invited to write down their thoughts on small cards to be tied to the branches of the tree, which stands as a symbol of peace and a reminder of hope and growth for the nation. Flags honoring those killed, including first responders who lost their lives in the rescue of others, will also be displayed on the lawn adjacent to Building 55 at the Grossmont College campus, located at 8800 Grossmont College Drive in El Cajon.

The Grossmont College Student Affairs Office and the Associated Students of Grossmont College, Inc., led by Peg Marcus, student body president, are hosting the public commemoration. For more information about the colleges, go to www.gcccd.edu