Thousands of Flags Displayed at Pepperdine, Ohio Campuses to Honor 9/11 Victims

Pepperdine University in Malibu marked the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks with its annual Waves of Flags display, featuring nearly 3,000 flags—one for each victim, including those from foreign countries. The ceremony included remarks from Chancellor Sara Young Jackson and a keynote address by actor Dennis Quaid, who supports first responder families, drawing a large community gathering at Alumni Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The event also highlighted Pepperdine’s permanent 9/11 memorial, the Thomas E. Burnett Jr. Heroes Garden, honoring a passenger who helped thwart a hijacking. Survivors like alumnus John Bossler, who escaped the World Trade Center, took part in the flag planting, emphasizing the display's role in personal healing and collective remembrance. Meanwhile, universities in Dayton, Ohio, including the University of Dayton and Wright State University, held their own flag-planting ceremonies led by ROTC students, aiming to educate younger generations who were not alive during the attacks and to honor those lost. These memorials underscore the lasting impact of 9/11 on communities nationwide and the ongoing commitment to remember the victims and heroes.