hws news
8 September 2017 September 11 Commemoration
In remembrance of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Hobart and William Smith will continue the tradition of observing the somber day with a service starting at 9:55 a.m. in front of the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts followed by a moment of silence. As they have done for a number of years, earlier in the day, members of the Kappa Alpha Society will place American flags on the Quad. This years observance marks the 16th anniversary of 9/11.
In 2001, the HWS community lost three alumni in the attacks at the World Trade Center, all of whom worked for the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald: Andrew H. Golkin '93, who majored in economics, was a member of the football team, Kappa Sigma, Inter-fraternity Council and the International Business Club; Scott W. Rohner '01, who majored in economics and played basketball and football; and Michael J. Simon '83, P'11, P'13, who majored in economics, was a member of Theta Delta Chi and played ice hockey, lacrosse, tennis and golf. A memorial plaque dedicated to Golkin, Rohner and Simon was placed on campus at the Abbe Center for Jewish Life.
As the sun rises over the Quad on Sept. 11, members of the Kappa Alpha Society, Hobart's oldest fraternity, will place 2,977 flags in the ground; one flag to represent every life lost in the 2001 attacks.
All are invited to gather at 9:55 at the Gearan Center for the remembrance service which will feature remarks from President Gregory J. Vincent '83, Chaplain Maurice Charles and Rebecca Czajkowski '18, who is helping to plan the commemoration.
Czajkowski's mother Traci Tack-Czajkowski P'18 was a detective with the New York Police Department who responded to the attacks the morning of September 11. She passed away several years ago after a battle with lung cancer attributed to her service.
"My personal experience with 9/11 has caused me to act impulsively with my heart, as it has with many," says Czajkowski. As a campus community, she says there is an opportunity to not only reflect on 9/11 with our hearts, but to actively participate in its remembrance. She encourages her classmates to take a moment to observe what marks a deeply personal history for many.
For those who would like to join the greater Geneva community in remembering the events of 9/11, a remembrance service is planned at 10 a.m. near Long Pier at Genevas lakefront.