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9/11 memorial brings together College Democrats and Republicans

September 12, 2016
MSU Capital Green sings the national anthem on Sept. 11. 2016 at the rock on Farm Lane. MSU College Democrats and MSU College Republicans held a memorial for the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.
MSU Capital Green sings the national anthem on Sept. 11. 2016 at the rock on Farm Lane. MSU College Democrats and MSU College Republicans held a memorial for the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. —
Photo by Nic Antaya | and Nic Antaya The State News

MSU College Republicans and College Democrats joined together at the Rock on Farm Lane to memorialize those lost in the 9/11 attacks on the tragedy’s 15th anniversary.

“Coming together for this memorial is really influential, that we can show that no matter what happens, especially in a divisive election year like this year, we can still come together for an event that traumatized the U.S.,” MSU College Republicans president and political theory and constitutional democracy senior Jeff Litten said.

The event brought seemingly opposing sides together.

“When you really watch the media and watch the news and you say ‘the Republicans and Democrats hate each other, they will never work together,’ but then you see not only here on Michigan State’s campus, I wouldn’t be surprised if multiple campuses across the country are coming together to show support for such a traumatizing time in our history,” Litten said.

Members of both organizations and a small crowd of students gathered by the Rock as the groups’ presidents spoke on the tragedy and their bipartisan efforts to honor those lost.

“Especially in such a chaotic election year, it’s pretty cool that we can come together and be a (bipartisan) thing that’s bigger than who we are and set aside our political differences for the day,” MSU College Democrats president and social relations and policy senior Daniel Eggerding said.

A capella group Capital Green performed the national anthem after Litten and Eggerding spoke.

The anthem was followed by 30 seconds of silence to conclude the memorial.

"We're really honored to be chosen to sing here at the memorial, and we hope that we can honor the people that gave their lives 15 years ago today," chemical engineering senior and Capital Green external president Tyler Patrick said.

Eggerding said the bipartisan memorial has been held annually since 2012, and was held sporadically prior to that.

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