On Sunday morning, the second annual 9/11 memorial 5K took place beginning at Stafford Commons. Ian Barclay, president of the 9/11 Memorial Event Planning Committee and fourth-year studying accounting, kicked off the event by speaking about the goal of the event: to “remember those who lost their lives, fought and are fighting for our country, as well as to celebrate our country’s resilience.”
“This event would not have been possible without the support of student organizations at State, as well as our men and women in the service, our firefighters, police and EMTs whom this event is truly for,” Barclay said.
Timestamps and radio clips from the moments leading up to and when the Twin Towers fell 16 years ago echoed through Stafford Commons. The service members and firefighters in attendance then went to the start line with the rest of the runners falling in line behind them.
At 9:11 a.m, fire sirens began wailing to signal the beginning of the race. Members of ROTC were stationed throughout the course to help guide participants. After the race began, patriotic music, including Toby Keith’s “Made in America” played throughout the starting area.
Danny Sodano, a fourth-year studying chemical engineering and economics, was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 18:16. Sodano said this was his first year running in the 9/11 run.
“Nothing compares to what happened, nor can anything make up for what happened, but I came here today to run and give it my all for those who did for us,” Sodano said.
Wake County EMTs ran together during the race and arrived a few minutes later, alongside firemen and police officers who ran in uniform.
Following the run, participants were encouraged to sign a banner emblazoned with the words “The Pack Never Forgets.” The banner from 2016 was also hanging in Stafford Commons. Omega Phi Alpha, a service sorority, was helping with the banner and with snacks and drinks prior to the race.
After all runners returned to Stafford Commons, a small ceremony brought the event to a close with a traditional Taps bugle call.
Barclay thanked all participants for their support and spoke about the flag memorial displayed across the lawn; the pentagonally arranged outer flags of the memorial allude to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., which was struck on 9/11. Flags were arranged to form two towers and the numbers 9 and 3 to remember those who died in United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.
The planning committee for the race plans to continue the event on an annual basis and hopes that the event continues to grow year to year.
Danny Sodano finishes the second annual 9/11 Memorial Run in first place at Stafford Commons on Sunday. Sodano finished the 5K race in just over 18 minutes.
