“Most people in college did not live through 9/11, but they’ve been taught about it. When people see the flags, I hope they remember the terrible events and the victims. I also hope they look forward to Christ and the renewing of all creation.”
On Thursday evening, September 10, a Dordt University student will spend a few hours putting small American flags into the lawn in front of the Campus Center — 2,977 of them, one for each person killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The memorial will stand through Friday, September 11, before being taken down that evening.
Reagan Van Beek, a business administration major from Sioux Center, is leading the effort for the second consecutive year. He's continuing a tradition started by a Dordt alumnus some years back.
"These were ordinary people going to work when their lives were cut short," Van Beek says, reflecting on what happened on September 11, 2001. "I think it's important to remember them out of respect — but also to remember that this life isn't everlasting and this world isn't permanent."
The logistics are straightforward but not small. Van Beek and other student volunteers work in rows, flag by flag, across the open lawn.
"Sometimes people will see us putting up flags while they're walking by and offer to help, which is awesome,” adds Van Beek.
This year, he hopes to arrange the flags in the shape of "9/11"—with the number 9 evoking the Pentagon and the two 1’s the Twin Towers — giving the display a visual connection to the day's events.
In the past, he didn’t have quite enough flags to commemorate every person who lost their life. This year, more flags were supplied through a contact at the Leadership Institute, ensuring the full count of 2,977 will be represented for the first time.
Van Beek says the memorial is less about the scale of the event and more about the individual lives it represents.
“Most people in college did not live through 9/11, but they’ve been taught about it,” he says. “When people see the flags, I hope they remember the terrible events and the victims. I also hope they look forward to Christ and the renewing of all creation.”
The display is open to the campus and broader Sioux Center community throughout the day on September 11.
About Dordt University
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, alumni, and the broader community to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life.
Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt offers undergraduate and graduate programs that help students live their faith in every area of life. Through rigorous learning, meaningful relationships, and whole-person formation, students gain the practical wisdom to serve God and neighbor through their work and in their communities. Dordt has been named among the nation's leading Christian universities by U.S. News & World Report, Niche, and other national publications.
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