9/11 vigil: ‘Only thing that can conquer the dark is the light’

FHSU's SGA Pres. Arin Powers speaks to crowd at 9/11 candlelight vigil Thursday night. — SGA President Arin Powers speaks to crowd at 9/11 candlelight vigil Thursday night at FHSU.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Participants fought back tears as they fought to keep the wind from extinguishing their flames at a candlelight vigil marking the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Approximately 40 people took part in the somber event, held on the campus of Fort Hays State University on Thursday night.

FHSU Student Government President Arin Powers was just an elementary student the day the attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania., killed 2,977 people.

On that fateful Tuesday morning in 2001, Powers remembered not really grasping the events unfolding on television — but as the years passed, she learned how strong “we are as a country” in the ability to overcome tragedy.

“As another September 11th comes to a close, it is important to look to the future and also remember the past, appreciate those around you and live your daily lives with determination and optimism,” she said, “knowing that the only thing that can conquer the dark is the light.”

Following Powers’ speech, the crowd watched a short film of the powerful scenes from 9/11 that included the hijacked jets hitting the World Trade Center towers and the rescue efforts that followed.

The vigil ended with the crowd joining to sing, “America, the Beautiful.”

297 flags were planted on the campus of FHSU. Each flag representing every 10 people that died on 9/11 — 297 flags were planted on the campus of FHSU. Each flag represented 10 people that died on 9/11.

The event was sponsored by Fort Hays State University’s American Democracy Project and Tigers in Service.