Univ. to hold vigil for Sept. 11 attacks

A vigil will be held Saturday at West Virginia University for those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks nine years ago.

WVU's Air Force and Army Reserves Officer Training Corps students organized the vigil to be held outside the Wise Library.

The event will be held from 7 a.m to 7 p.m. with a different ROTC cadet guarding a wreath located in front of the library every half-hour.

Steven Mallamo, a junior Air Force ROTC cadet, said the vigil tradition goes back to the fifth-year anniversary of Sept. 11.

"It's important to remember what happened that day," he said. "We lost more than just civilians, firefighters, police officers and even more volunteer civilians risked their lives. We can't look back and regret, but we have to remember that day."

Since 2006, the ROTC has continued a 24-hour vigil outside the library for the anniversary, he said.

Because Sept. 11 falls on a weekend this year, Mallamo said they are doing a 12-hour vigil instead to ensure the safety of the ROTC guards.

WVU's Student Government Association is also taking part in the vigil with a tree-lighting ceremony.

"We are decorating a tree in front of the library to remember the lives that were lost in the tragedy that struck all Americans," said SGA Vice President Ron Cheng.

SGA President Chris Lewallen will be writing a blog on the SGA website to share his experiences from the day the attacks happened.

Lewallen said he wants students to also share their own personal experiences about that day.

"It was such a tragic event for our country," he said. "Students everywhere, people everywhere ... need to keep that in the back of their minds and remember why we're fighting."

Two WVU alumni were killed in the attacks. Scholarships were set up by the WVU Foundation to commemorate their lives.

James K. Samuel Jr. graduated in 1993 and was working for Carr Futures in the World Trade Center.

The James K. Samuel Jr. Athletic Scholarship provides aid for a qualified undergraduate student athlete at WVU, with a first preference for a student with a finance major, said Bill Nevin, director of communications for the WVU foundation.

Chris Gray, a 1992 and 1994 graduate, was working for Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center during the attacks.

The Chris Gray Memorial Football Scholarship provides undergraduate scholarships for qualified student athletes on the WVU football team, he noted.

"The agreement outlines that recipients shall demonstrate acceptable academic promise and shall have a good record of citizenship," Nevin said.

Samantha Cossick contributed to this report.