Never Forgotten
HONORING THE VICTIMS OF 9/11
2,997. The number of lives lost on September 11, 2001.
The United States continues to mourn the victims and honor their courage 22 years after the devastating terrorist attacks that included plane crashes at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Members of the UH community gathered this morning (Sept. 11) for "UH Remembers 9/11." The annual event included posting of the colors by the Color Guard and remarks from UH leaders, students, as well as representatives of the armed forces. The Carillon Bell rang 11 times at 9:11 a.m.
The World Trade Center Memorial and Reflection Garden is outside the Student Center Theater entrance.
The World Trade Center Memorial and Reflection Garden is outside the Student Center Theater entrance.
A bouquet of flowers placed on the marble base of the World Trade Center Memorial.
A bouquet of flowers placed on the marble base of the World Trade Center Memorial.
The History of UH's Sept. 11 Memorial
At the University of Houston, a steel beam from one of the World Trade Center towers serves as a constant reminder to never forget those who lost their lives.
The World Trade Center Memorial and Reflection Garden outside the Student Center South Theater entrance is the permanent home of the 3,888-pound piece of twisted steel.
UH is the first and only university in Texas to have a piece of “Ground Zero” on display publicly.
Elwyn Lee, UH vice president for neighborhood and strategic initiatives (center), was instrumental in getting the World Trade Center beam to UH. Pictured on January 29, 2014 at the dedication ceremony with then UH students (l-r) Kenneth Fomunung and Cedric K. Bandoh.
Elwyn Lee, UH vice president for neighborhood and strategic initiatives (center), was instrumental in getting the World Trade Center beam to UH. Pictured on January 29, 2014 at the dedication ceremony with then UH students (l-r) Kenneth Fomunung and Cedric K. Bandoh.
“Bringing the World Trade Center artifact to UH was very important to me because I could see how important it was to our students. For that generation, it was their Pearl Harbor – a day when the world as we know it changed forever,” said Elwyn Lee, UH vice president for neighborhood and strategic initiatives. “The attacks on 9/11 were attacks on inclusivity and community, principles the University of Houston stands for. We should never forget.”
The memorial opened on January 29, 2014, but efforts to bring the artifact to UH began in 2009 when the UH Student Government Association (SGA) and UH Division of Student Affairs worked with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to procure the steel remnant, which measures 69.5 inches long and 39.5 inches wide.
“The memorial on campus serves as a reflection site to pay tribute to the many people who lost their lives on that tragic day in American history, but it’s also a reminder of our strength and resilience as a country in the face of adversity," said Keith Kowalka, assistant vice president for student affairs. "We encourage everyone in our campus community and beyond to visit the memorial.”
We will never forget.
UH 9/11 memorial story was originally published Sept. 2021, written by Sara Tubbs
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