All three Marquette ROTC branches held a memorial service for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks outside Raynor Memorial Libraries Wednesday at 3 p.m. Speakers included Campus Ministry Director Ann Mulgrew and Milwaukee Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing. A lowering of the flag to half-staff as a sign of national mourning and sorrow and a moment of silence followed the speeches.
Mulgrew, who has served as chaplain for the past six of Marquette’s Sept. 11 observances, began with a prayer of hope for change throughout the world.
In honoring the first responders who lost their lives in the attacks, Rohlfing said in his speech that he hopes our nation will, “use their sacrifice as a continuous reminder that we must work at our democracy.”
“We come together today as a nation to remember the events, to grieve and pray for the innocent victims who lost their lives, but most importantly, not to forget the sacrifice of our firefighters, our policemen, our soldiers and our citizens,” Rohlfing said.
He also thanked the ROTC branches for the service.
“It’s uplifting that I see a new generation of individuals who are willing to serve and sacrifice,” he said. “When I come and I look at these young men and women in uniform … I can see that our future is in good hands.”
After the ceremony, Mulgrew said her aim was, “to honor and to remember those who died on this day 12 years ago and in the 12 years since these events.”
“I also prayed for peace,” Mulgrew said, “peace in a resolution to present conflicts, peace in our own city of Milwaukee as we keep hearing about the deaths of our young people through gun violence, and peace on our campus as we acknowledge and work through differences.”
In the past, Marquette students and faculty held similar services in remembrance of the 9/11 attacks, including last year’s colors ceremony, which also featured Rohlfing as a guest speaker.
Maredithe Meyer, a freshman in the College of Communication, attended the event and said that she believes it is a very important ceremony for Marquette students and faculty, considering that this anniversary is such a monumental day.
“I think it’s really important to stop and honor everyone affected by this tragedy, and I think that the ROTC did a really great job honoring this day,” said Meyer. “It’s nice to be able to honor it with the ROTC students who will one day be protecting our country.”
