Norwich remembers September 11

By Lynn Beedle
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

One year after the attacks on America, faculty, corps, and civilian students of Norwich University came together on the upper parade (UP) ground in remembrance of the tragedy, according to the military police detachment commander.

"One thing that stood out to me, which was a good thing, was that when the parade was about to start there was a group of about fifty civilian students who were standing on the grass next to Dewey to watch the parade, which was something new that I'd like to see more of in the future," said Andrew Bauer, 20, a business management major from Leicester, Mass. "It shows that the civilian students care what the corps does as well as showing their support in remembrance of the tragedy that day."

As the anniversary of 9/11 approached, the Norwich community took some time to remember the victims, heroes, and terrible events from that day.

At 8:46 a.m., when the first plane struck the first World Trade Center (WTC) building, the school observed a moment of silence. The Norwich carillon bells were played.

The Corps of Cadets held a special retreat formation at 4:30 p.m. that Wednesday. The corps traditionally walks up and around the grass on the pavement, but that day they marched up the grass area of the UP, which is only done on special occasions.

"We were focused on having the parade, mainly, and trying to remember the events that happened that day and reflect on it," Bauer said.

NU President Richard Schneider spoke, and then there was a prayer given by the regimental chaplain, Michael Gonyo.

"There was a wreath presented during the ceremony in memory of the lives lost in the attack," said Davis Bennett, 23, a business major from San Antonio, Tex. "The flag was taken down from half-mast while the national anthem played."

According to Bauer, everything was done by silent commands, which was something new for the students.

Once the flag was brought down, the cadet colonel, Jake Sotiriadis, narrated the meanings behind each fold of the flag.

"There are 13 folds that we make before the flag is folded. Each stands for one of the original thirteen colonies," Bennett said.

"Once the flag ceremony was complete, the entire corps conducted a silent fall out, where no leaders gave verbal commands," Bauer said.

"This was an important day of ministry for me," said Bill Wick, Norwich University chaplain and director of campus ministries.

There were many students who visited Wick that Wednesday, about three times as many as the usual 10 to 15 a day.

Aside from the unique retreat formation, there were many other, more personal, events taking place that day.

"Much of that day was spent helping students find private context where they could grieve, and to be with them, pray with them, and to speak with them," Wick said.

"Actually, for this service here on campus I was an onlooker with the rest of you, just enjoying the presentation by the corps."

One of the most significant moments was when a piece of the WTC buildings was presented by Jeffrey Wood to the University.

"[Wood] took a piece of the stone facing that had been on the WTC to help us remember all the lives lost, and the two Norwich graduates who also were killed in that tragedy," Wick said.

"So it's to help us remember, not forget; very simple, very artistic. He didn't make it special, he wanted to leave the scars and the marks there to remind us of the tragedy of that day," Wick said.

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