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24 years after the September 11th terrorist attacks, Youngstown State University paused Thursday to remember the victims, first responders and the lessons that continue to shape the nation.
Students, faculty and community members gathered inside the atrium of Cushwa Hall for a remembrance ceremony organized by the university’s Criminal Justice Department.
A screen scrolled the nearly 3,000 names of those killed in the 2001 attacks.
A moment of silence honored their memory, while service members stood in tribute to fallen heroes.
“This is a new year where we’ve done a lot of newer things,” said Derek Young, adjunct professor of criminal justice at YSU, “I think it’s important to engage everybody in events like this and remembering days like September 11, 2001.”
YSU President Bill Johnson, who addressed the crowd, said the ceremony was about passing on the values of freedom and resilience to younger generations.
“We should teach this to every generation, [all generations] need to remember that freedom is not free,” Johnson said, "There are people all around the world that are threatened by the values that we share, the values that ultimately are the foundation of individual freedom and liberty, our freedom of speech, our freedom of religion, our freedom to exercise our freedom of religion in our daily lives, our freedom to pursue our goals and ambitions."
Students said they want to ensure that their children and peers remember that day.
“At that time, we all came together as a country,” said Angi Pearce, a senior at YSU, “I think it’s important that the younger generation understand how getting together like that impacts the world and how we are today.”
Organizers also highlighted how tragedy can reveal a community’s strength.
“A lot of times in tragedy, we find out more about who we are and what we’re capable of doing,” Young said, “It’s about how we respond to situations such as September 11.”
Johnson added that unity is critical at a time when violence and division are frequent headlines.
“There is so much more value in talking and listening and working through the differences collaboratively rather than turning to violence,” he said.