Dara Ake (left) and Terese Samaniego (right) bow their heads in prayer during a memorial service held yesterday in the Hughes-Trigg Commons to remember the victims of September 11, 2001. The event was organized by the Kappa Delta Chi sorority. (John Schreiber)

“Six years have passed since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 claimed the lives of thousands of American lives and the effects of which are still felt today.” These were the opening remarks of Kappa Delta Chi president Dara Ake during the 9/11 memorial.

The ceremony was held in the Hughes-Trigg Commons yesterday at 12:30 p.m. Kappa Delta Chi, a multicultural, Christian-based service sorority, handed out small red, white and blue ribbons. This was followed by a moment of silence and a common prayer for its attendees.

The main purpose of the event was to remember the heroes and victims who lost their lives that day while at the same time honoring the soldiers who are currently stationed overseas. The sorority advisor, Melissa Caruth, reminded students and faculty that, “Those people had families, communities and souls,” Caruth said.

The ceremony served as a reminder of the attacks on 9/11 six years ago, and how the baggage that is towed along with the national tragedy is pictured in front of us like billboards. Now, Americans don’t need to be reminded of the effects of terror and military engagements, what steps the government is taking to “right the wrong,” or what the next president will decide to do about it. Americans do, however, need to be reminded of what happened to our country six years ago.

Associate Chaplin Dr. Judy Henneberger imparted a few words as the memorial began by posing the rhetorical question: “What do we do today?”

“Memory is the most powerful teacher, and that those people who have fallen should never be forgotten,” Henneberg said.