Members Ohio University’s College Republicans continued their yearly tradition of honoring 9/11 victims with a flag display, and for the first time this year, they were joined by members of College Democrats as well.
The flag display is a national event that College Republicans nationwide have hosted since 2002, said Allison Arnold, communications chair for the College Republicans.
“What we hope people will get out of this is that 9/11 is a day to remember; not to focus on the things we disagree on, but a day to remember this horrible event, the people who were killed and the first responders,” Arnold said.
Exactly 3,000 miniature flags were displayed on College Green today, and they represented both the 2,977 people who had died as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks and the people who responded to the attacks and were injured, Arnold said.
College Democrats and Republicans, as well as members of Student Senate, set up the flags last night, along with lights, and stayed at the display throughout the night as students and Athens residents passed by.
College Democrats President Nick Tuell said he thought the collaboration between the two groups was important.
“No matter your political views, 9/11 is an American thing, not a Democrat or Republican thing,” Tuell said. “We were honored to be a part of it this year.”
Arnold stayed by the display since 5 p.m. yesterday
“It’s been really great,” she said. “We’ve had students stop by, community members. It was really cool to talk with some of the young kids. I was 10 when (9/11) happened, and there was a little girl here who was 10, so we were able to make that connection.”
rm279109@ohiou.edu
