They weren’t yet born during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. But this year, Fordham students did their part to make sure the story of that tragic day is not forgotten.
On Sept. 10, nearly a dozen students and administrators gathered for a beautification and remembrance event at Finlay Gardens, the site of the Rose Hill Campus memorial dedicated to the three students and 36 alumni who died in the attacks. After brief remarks and a color guard ceremony featuring members of Fordham’s ROTC, attendees planted chrysanthemums across from the memorial.
The event was spearheaded by Ava Cascella, a senior majoring in political science, in conjunction with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Cascella began interning this summer with the museum through Fordham’s Serving the City internship program.
A major aspect of the internship is supporting the museum’s Visionary Network, which brings young professionals together through acts of service, advocacy, and remembrance. In 2021, the group began promoting 9/11 memorial beautification initiatives as a way to foster community engagement.
“I thought it would be meaningful to bring members of the Fordham community together to beautify the memorial and shed light on the victims,” said Cascella, “because a lot of students aren’t even aware that this garden exists.”
She said she hoped it would become a new tradition on campus that continues after she graduates.
“Our parents are the last generation to live through this day. How do we keep these stories alive and continue to tell them to the next generation? A big part of that is through people like us coming here today and learning and remembering,” said Cascella, who addressed the group at the event.
Lucas Hjertberg, executive president of Fordham’s United Student Government, also spoke at the ceremony. His parents fled from Manhattan to Hoboken on Sept. 11, and growing up there, he was always reminded of the anniversary by the annual Tribute in Light.
He agreed with Cascella that it is incumbent upon a new generation to keep telling the story of the day.
“To hear the experiences of people who were there on that day, how it shaped us as a nation and continues to shape us as a nation, is really important,” he said. “I also think it’s important to continue to highlight Fordham’s connections to the city itself. We have dozens of members of our community who lost their lives that day.”
