Eleven years later, those emotions still can be seen in the people remembering the victims and heroes who fell that day.

“I just remember being scared,” said R.J. Jensen, a computer science junior, as he reflected on the day he watched the tragedy unfold in his fourth-grade art class. “Today, it still makes me angry … and it’s just sad, looking at these past 11 years.”

Dozens of students gathered at the rock on Farm Lane on Tuesday to reflect on the day and to honor those who lost their lives.

“Today (it) is vital that we continue to pay tribute to the victims,” said Nick Kowalski, a political theory and constitutional democracy senior, as he gazed at the rock with “Never Forget” painted on it.

Students and faculty frequently stopped by to take pictures of the red, white and blue scene at the rock and pay tribute to the day.

Just after noon, those in attendance held a moment of silence.

One student wrote “Forgive” on a sheet of paper and staked it to the ground with one of the American flags that surrounded the rock.

Most people who crouched down to see the note walked away nodding their heads in approval of the message.

Supply chain management and economics senior Cody Hibbs, an organizer and vice chairman of College Republicans, noted the atmosphere around the rock was “appreciative.”

“We’ve done this the last couple years, and people still come and enjoy it,” Hibbs said, as a dozen bystanders silently stared at the painted rock behind him.

Hibbs also added the reason this memorial is set up isn’t to promote their political group, but rather to focus on the nation as a whole: after the attacks happened, however, America stood together and powered through the tragedy.

“(It’s great) watching everybody that walks by and taking pictures,” Jensen said. “It really is a great unity builder for the country.”

Despite feelings of anger and sadness stemming from that dark September day, there still is a sense of unity around campus and America, said Jensen.

“If nothing else, that tragic day did bring unity to the country, and it makes me confident that we will keep moving on,” he said.