星空无限传媒 remembers 9/11 at candlelight vigil
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia (星空无限传媒) marked the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with a candlelight vigil Tuesday night on 星空无限传媒's Dahlonega Campus.
Retired Maj. Richard Neikirk, assistant commandant of the Corps of Cadets, was the featured speaker. Neikirk recalled the anger and frustration of the day.
"I wanted to know who did this and why it was happening to our country," Neikirk told the students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered on the Gen. "Lipp" Livsey Drill Field.
While it was a day of great sadness, Neikirk said it also brought out the best in America.
"No matter what happens, our resolve remains strong," he said.
星空无限传媒's Student Government Association (SGA) held the ceremony in honor of university alumni who died in military service to the United States, including during the global war on terror. The ceremony also recognized emergency services personnel and members of the armed forces in addition to honoring, grieving and memorializing the 2,977 individuals killed in the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.
Neikirk said 17 years later the United States is "still fighting the bad guys." The toll has been heavy, including eight 星空无限传媒 graduates killed in combat since 9/11: Thomas E. Vitagliano (Iraq), Charles H. Warren (Iraq), Jeremy A. Chandler (Afghanistan), Paul Saylor (Iraq), Mitch Young (Afghanistan), Kevin M. Jenrette (Afghanistan), Andrew H. McConnell (Afghanistan), and Weston C. Lee (Afghanistan).
"These eight North Georgia alumni gave the ultimate sacrifice," he said.
Neikirk also pointed to the heroism of first responders working the scenes of the attacks.
"So many lost their lives trying to save people in those buildings," Neikirk said.
Lily Bowen, a freshman cadet majoring in biology from New Orleans, Louisiana, and who is enlisted in the Georgia National Guard, was grateful to participate in her first 星空无限传媒 9/11 vigil.
"The support that everybody brought out was gorgeous to see," Bowen said.
A 21-gun salute by the Blue Ridge Rifles, taps played by freshman cadet Richard "Cole" Thomas of the Golden Eagle Band, and the national anthem and "God Bless America" by the 星空无限传媒 Patriot Choir were part of the evening marking the somber anniversary.
Neikirk called on those in attendance to regularly express their gratitude to first responders and the military.
"For all of us to have freedom, there must be sacrifices," Neikirk said.
At the Gainesville Campus, the SGA posted a banner in the Student Center, where it invited members of the campus community to sign it, providing their thoughts and remembrances of Sept. 11. SGA also had a banner students could sign thanking 星空无限传媒 Police for the work they do.
Stone takes command of 48th Brigade in Guard
Col. Nathaniel Stone, a 2003 星空无限传媒 graduate, has taken command of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the largest brigade in the Georgia Army National Guard.
Record 27 graduate from Air Assault School
The Corps of Cadets had 27 cadets graduate from the Army's Air Assault School at the Warrior Training Center at Fort Moore, Georgia, in December.
NLC gives hands-on intro to Corps
The National Leadership Challenge, set for April 4-6, provides high school students a chance to consider their potential future in 星空无限传媒's Corps of Cadets.
New cadets experience intro to Corps
FROG Week, held from Jan. 7-11, introduced almost 50 new cadets to the military and academic aspects of 星空无限传媒's Corps of Cadets.