The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

Students remember September 11th

Nine years ago, Andrea Kazaniwskyj, junior in ACES was in middle school during the September 11 terrorist attacks. There was an announcement made at her school, a moment of silence for those who died and the choir sang a song. However, it wasn’t until she returned home and talked with her dad that she truly understood what had happened to the United States, that there was a terrorist attack and that 2,977 people had died.

“It was just kind of surreal when everything came together,” Kazaniwskyj said.

Sophomore Luke DuBravec said he was also at school when he heard the news. A teacher came in and announced what happened, and DuBravec said everyone wanted to go home and be with their families.

When he arrived home, his television was not working and he listened to the news on the radio with his family. An electrician came to fix the television and after he fixed it, joined the DuBravec family in watching the news unfold.

“Just us and a random electrician,” Dubravec said. “It brings people together.”

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Today, Kazaniwkskji and Dubravec still remember the events of the September 11 attacks every year.

Friday, Kazaniwkskji joined University students from multiple clubs and organizations and simply students who were just friends with one another to sit at a memorial on the Quad.

The memorial had flags set up on the Quad, one flag for every two individuals who was killed, totaling 1,468 flags.

In a press release, it was stated that the memorial was held in honor of everyone who fought to defend the United States. The project was part of a bigger project, the Young America Foundation’s 9/11 Never Forget Project. It was the second year for Illinois students to put this display together.

“Some people forget about what happened, some people want to forget,” DuBravec said. “It’s important to remember and honor the people that died, because it meant so much for our country. Even if you weren’t directly affected, if you don’t know someone who died, it’s still important to remember.”

During the day, the students said that they had multiple people come up to them, different war veterans and people from New York who thanked the students for their efforts.

However, they got negative feedback from some individuals who did not think it was necessary to have a memorial and to remember the anniversary of the event.

The students still believed that it was important to hold the memorial.

“We want to be here, we know that it is important to be here and to remember what happened,” Kyle Denlinger, junior in Kinesology said. “Everyone remembers what happened, we all remember where we were that day.”

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