For the Pepperdine community, the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 will be a time to honor all victims of the terrorist attacks, display patriotism and remember one distinctly valiant alumnus. On that day 10 years ago, Pepperdine’s own Thomas Burnett Jr. lost his life alongside the others on Flight 93 who heroically resisted terrorist attempts to attack the American public.
Next Sunday, the 11th, a myriad of events on campus will commemorate the significant events from that day. At 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., the University Church of Christ will lead “Legacies of Hope and Peace: A gathering to remember Christ’s work of hope and peace in those whose lives were changed forever on 9/11” in Elkins Auditorium.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., nearly 35 individuals from varying religious, service, professional and campus affiliations will read the complete list of names of the victims and fallen emergency responders from that day.
During this time, there will also be a film screening of “United 93” in Elkins Auditorium, followed by a conversation with actor Christian Clemenson, who portrayed Burnett in the film.
Following the film, a memorial service will take place in Alumni Park to honor the heroes of 9/11. Burnett’s widow, Deena Burnett Bailey, will speak at the program along with President Andrew K. Benton, both recognizing the distinct importance of this decade anniversary.
“We tend to think of 10-year intervals following important events as just a little more meaningful, and worthy of reflection,” Benton wrote in an email. “On the 11th of September we will each recall where we were 10 years ago on that fateful day.”
Pepperdine has a tradition of remembering 9/11 through its public display of American flags on Alumni Park. For four years, Pepperdine has presented 2,976 flags on its lawn to represent each victim of the attacks. Typically, campus clubs, athletic teams, and Greek groups band together to mount the flags.
Another growing tradition is Ride to the Flags, a group of motorcyclists that make a 25-mile trip from the Point Mugu Naval Base in Ventura to the campus flag presentation. As many as 1,000 motorcycles could make the voyage to visit the flags this year, according to 2009 alumnus Ryan Sawtelle, who founded the ride after helping set up flags in 2008.
“Many of our riders are vets, police officers and fire fighters … We even have a couple of wounded vets who have wheelchair accessible bikes,” Sawtelle wrote in an email. “It’s really touching to see these guys come down from San Francisco every year, or San Diego just to take part in this ride. We have a rider whose father was a member of the NYPD who flies out from Florida to do the ride every year.”
Sawtelle explains that bikers, on a whole, are very patriotic people, as the sense of freedom when riding equates well with their national pride. Coordinating with the Point Mugu naval base, Los Angeles police boosters and the White Heart foundation, the group of riders now raises money for a variety of charities for the ride each September.
“Everyone is just in it for the right purpose. It’s an all-volunteer, 100 percent donation ride.”
Among all of these commemorative events, Benton encourages the community to recognize the underlying importance of 9/11, especially at this 10-year anniversary ceremony.
“The point is that we remember those who lost their lives, and we will recall stories from that day,” Benton wrote. “Tom’s story is tragic, but it is also heroic. I suspect there will be many emotions present among the flags, hearing his widow’s comments and absorbing the enormity of this event in American history.”
In 2002, Heroes Garden on the bluff on Drescher Campus was dedicated to the remembrance of Burnett and other victims of 9/11. The honorary plaques, fountains and benches overlooking the Pacific make for a tranquil setting that houses the living memorial. Heroes Garden will be open to the public all day Sept. 11, except from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a private ceremony.
Although all these events will honor those who lost lives on that day, from the magnificent flag display to quiet services help around campus, for Benton, the simplest patriotic displays are the most significant.
“I suspect I will be filled with emotions throughout,” Benton said, “but there is still something about our national anthem that centers me and straightens me.”
