by Mai Luong

On September 8, 2006, the Stony Brook family commemorated the 5^th year anniversary of the events that happened on September 11, 2001. The ceremony took place at the September 11^th Memorial Arch donated by the Stony Brook Alumni Association located between Humanities and Psychology. Present at the ceremony were SUNY Chancellor John R. Ryan, President Shirley Strum Kelly, families of the victims who belonged to the Stony Brook family, chaplains, faculty, students and other members of Stony Brook community. Chaplains from the Interfaith Center and various members of the community representing these organizations, Hillel, Catholic Campus Ministry, Islamic Society of North America, Protestant Campus Ministry, Baptist Student Ministry, and the Center for India Studies, each gave a prayer. One student from each denomination was present to light the memorial candle in unison. Afterwards, the names of those lost were read followed by a tolling of the September 11^th Memorial bell donated by the Undergraduate Student Government. We had a moment of silence undisturbed except for the solemn tolling of bells in the background. President Kenny and Chancellor Ryan each gave a speech exhorting us to remember and be strong.  The ceremony ended with the color guard made up of members of the Stony Brook University Police marching with the flags past a path lined by members of SBVAC. We will never forget.