Norwich University honors 9/11 victims with 24-hour day of remembrance

The terrorist attacks on American civilians 23 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001, changed the lives of millions of Americans in the blink of an eye. In the immediate years following the attacks, Norwich University students felt compelled to honor the lives lost through a Remembrance Ceremony in honor of Patriot Day. That ceremony continues to this day.

Considering Norwich University’s history as the first private military college and birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, the University creates an especially unique atmosphere on days like this. The Remembrance Ceremony quickly became important to not only the University, but the surrounding communities in Northfield and beyond. Here, cadets and civilian students are able to share emotions and sentiments with those in the local communities that welcomed them to Northfield as a Norwich student.

The ceremony begins when the clock strikes 0000 (midnight) on Sept. 11 and concludes exactly 24 hours later at 0000 Sept. 12. At the first moment of the 11th, a cadet takes the first step of their 15-minute Vigil Tour. In previous years, the tours were 30 minutes each, but last year saw increased requests to partake in the Vigil Tours, so they were adjusted to 20 minutes; this year, the interest continued to rise, and time slots were reduced to 15 minutes each to substantially increase the opportunity for those wanting to be a direct part of the Vigil Tours. These tours are marched by cadets along the Tour Strip, a path that is surrounded by the thousands of American flags that students placed in the ground prior to midnight. What makes this location special is the fact that the Tour Strip is reserved solely for specific purposes, one of which are Vigil Tours when cadets are selected to render an honor as part of a 24-hour watch; as part of the selection, cadets with personal ties to the tragedy receive priority when being considered for the Vigil Tour.

The Upper Parade Ground (UP) is usually bustling with life as the sounds of the Regimental Band fill the air or students make their way to class, but on days of remembrance, the UP fosters a different energy. Students, faculty, and staff refrain from speaking unless necessary; and when they must, it is in hushed tones or whispers away from the ceremony itself. The silence allows the already solemn occasion to be appreciated at the deepest personal levels on a campus where sentiments and traditions in the American spirit have been passed from class to class for more than two centuries. While this silence is not mandated, it permeates throughout The Hill and highlights both the student body’s and local community’s shared personal commitments to honoring the lives lost that day.

Silence on The Hill

As the first Vigil Tour began, the few lights on the UP dimly reflected off the black shoes as the quiet footsteps produced the only sound on campus. Each participating cadet walking a Vigil Tour followed in the same quiet footsteps, and before long, it was approaching 2145 (9:45 p.m.) when the doors of Jackman Hall quietly opened. The entire Corps of Cadets was already silently joined by civilian students, faculty, staff, and community members who lined the perimeter of the UP. Three buglers made their way down the stairs before raising their horns and beginning to play at exactly 2145. As their song filled the air, the crowd stood motionless except for the single cadet walking the Vigil Tour. 

The silence of the crowd gathered on the UP belied its size. As the crowd stood in waiting, the barely-audible sound of Jackman Hall’s doors opening slightly broke the silence as two buglers made their way outside; the first took their position next to the cannon and field of flags that represented the mass of lives needlessly and senselessly lost on 9/11, and the second placed themselves along the edge of Dewey Hall. A group of bagpipe players and select drummer had already taken their position on the balcony of Jackman Hall. 

The silence was sharply broken a few minutes later at 2200 (10:00 p.m.) as Echo Taps rang over The Hill. Outside of the quiet tapping of cadets’ shoes along the Tour Strip, this was the first time sound was heard on the UP and highlighted the intentional silence that cadets, civilians, and the local community had worked to create throughout the day. Just as the silence returned, the bagpipes and drums began filling the air playing Amazing Grace. This time, the return of silence was permanent, and the musicians again returned to Jackman Hall.

Though the 24-hour mark was approaching, the crowd remained to pay their respects. Families, friends, and complete strangers gathered alongside one another in community and remembrance as cadets continued tours nearby. The renewed silence continued on the UP, a reminder of the stark contrast of the chaos in New York City following the attacks. Though these attacks tore a hole in the hearts of American citizens, moments like these shared in a corner of Northfield provide a moment of healing. Nearly a quarter of a century later, it is evident that Americans, both young and old, still reserve a special place in their collective hearts in honor of the victims of 9/11.