Pepperdine commemorates Sept. 11, 2001 during its annual 9/11 memorial and attendees reflect on that day where time stood still.
The memorial ceremony was marked with themes of honor and freedom for all of the first responders, firefighters and police officers who risked and sacrificed their lives during 9/11. President Jim Gash called for attendees to not only remember those lost, but to respond with honor.
The Waves of Flags began 16 years ago when two Pepperdine students were inspired to create a grand display of American flags to commemorate 9/11, Chancellor Sara Young Jackson said.
“In addition to being blessed by those two thoughtful students, we were blessed by the support of our dear friend with us today, Pat Boone,” Jackson said.
Boone sponsored the student’s vision of American flags that wave on Alumni Park’s lawn every Sept. 11, Jackson said. There is a flag for each life lost in the World Trade Center terror attack — 2,977 individuals. There is also a flag representing each country that lost a citizen.
During the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, a $1 million endowment was created by the Pepperdine community for the annual Waves of Flags, Jackson said.
Senior Vice Chancellor Adrian Stevens gave the invocation.
“Fill us with the desire to be instruments of peace, driven by your divine love,” Stevens prayed.
First-year Skyla Woodward sang a rendition of the national anthem and Marlyn Day, Pepperdine University Board Co-Chair, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Myers Mentzer, president of the Student Government Association, spoke from II Corinthians 5 during the memorial ceremony.
“For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands,” Mentzer read.
Jackson introduced Boone as the honorary speaker for the 2024 Waves of Flags ceremony. He has been the chair of the university board for over 40 years and provided the endowment for Pepperdine’s Boone Center for the Family.
Boone’s latest release, “Where Did America Go?” was played before his speech. He said he wrote what he felt America was needing to hear today. He compared it to the meaningful lines in Bob Dylan’s song, “Blowing in the Wind,” which was written in the 60s and helped bring about change.
“I felt then, and I still feel we need a similar call to come back together and to address the divides and political differences and spiritual differences,” Boone said.
“They’re [the flags] almost the glue that has kept America together for our whole history,” Boone said.
Boone said the nearly 3,000 flags aren’t just standing but they are also speaking. They are serve as a reminder to all the men and women who have given their lives for our country.
“These flags speak and sing America, of God,” Boone said. “Their promise to each one, that they represent, that these deaths were not in vain, and that the God who has blessed America has now blessed them.”
Following Boone’s speech, Gash talked about one’s response to remembrance.
“It’s not just the act of remembering that we’re interested in, but what the act of remembering caused us to moving forward,” Gash said.
Pepperdine values building and sustaining a culture of honor, because that’s where freedom lives, Gash said. Those who lost their lives on 9/11 honored us and today we honor their sacrifice, Gash said.
“They’re banners of freedom, cheering us on to live honorable lives for the good of all humanity,” Gash said.
Tim Spivey, vice president for Spiritual Life, gave the benediction.
Eric Leshinsky, who served 26 years in the United States Air Force and is the current director of Student Veteran Affairs, was joined by senior Samuel Miller, president of the Pepperdine Veterans Organization. Together, they placed the final flag in the waves of flags installation.
Attendees reflect on September 11, 2001
Former Army Serviceman Kevin Niles said he was home, about to depart for an international flight, when he heard from his son about Flight 93 hitting the Twin Towers. Any and all flights were immediately shutdown by air traffic control and planes in the air immediately landed at the closest airport, Niles said.
“They just had no idea what was going on in the country,” Niles said.
It’s important to honor and pay tribute to those that died that day, Niles said speaking of the 25th anniversary coming in two years.
Pepperdine Fire Captain Jason Jensen said he was on his way to work at Pepperdine that morning when he heard the announcement on the radio.
“That was a very emotional day,” Jensen said.
At the time, he was living with his family in Antelope Valley close to the Edwards Air Force Base. Their family discussed whether he should come all the way to Malibu that morning because of all the uncertainty, Jensen said.
Pepperdine Fire Captain Mark Lauren said he remembered the morning of 9/11 when his wife cried out, “You’ll never believe it!” Lauren was about to begin a new position at Monterey Airport Fire, he said.
“It was my first day, and that came to a screeching halt,” Lauren said. “The job was put on hold.”
Lauren said because of what took place that day, he came to work at Pepperdine.
“It’s a moment I’ll never forget and it brought me here, and I’m grateful for that,” Lauren said.
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Contact Rachel Flynn via email: rachel.flynn@pepperdine.edu
