The American flag steadily rose to the top of the pole in front of the Administration Building on Thursday morning, pausing for a moment before being slowly lowered halfway down again to a point just below the surrounding tree line.
Underneath, members of MSU's Air Force ROTC Color Guard had gathered in the crisp morning air to honor the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Dressed in full, navy blue military uniforms and clean white gloves, ROTC senior cadets William Leyrer, Andrew Somsel, Rachelle Wiler and junior Matthew Bal raised the flag to half mast at 8:46 a.m. - the exact moment the first hijacked plane crashed into the World Trade Center two years ago in New York City.
The cadets organized the event because they said raising the flag was the best way to remember the lives lost.
"We are all inspired by the remembrance and sobriety of the day," Wiler said.
About 20 ROTC cadets stood at attention on the wet, freshly cut grass around the flag. Nearby, students stopped their treks to class, an MSU police officer paused his patrol car in the middle of the street and everything was quiet - except the distant sound of a bell tolling in Beaumont Tower.
Air Force Col. Ken Wiechert watched the ceremony and personally commended the four ROTC cadets for their patriotism.
"These are fine young Americans who put this together of their own initiative to recognize the Sept. 11 losses," Wiechert said.
After the flag came to rest at the halfway point, the cadets marched in sync slowly and mechanically away from the flag pole.
"(The march) shows how we can progress and move forward past anything," said Leyrer, a psychology senior.
On a normal day, the cadets would raise one flag for the university, one for the Air Force and one for America. Only the American flag rose Thursday - a symbol of the occasion, Leyrer said.
In his four years with the Color Guard, Leyrer has participated in many flag-raising events such as the Olympic games and police department functions. He said raising the flag in honor of Sept. 11 gave him a unique feeling he doesn't get at other flag ceremonies.
"I couldn't imagine a better job," Leyrer said. "It is a honor. People need to remember why we are doing this."
Wiechert said he wouldn't spend Thursday thinking about today's problems in Iraq or other issues but would instead reflect solely on that September morning in 2001.
But terrorism is something the country has to cope with, he said.
"It isn't going to go away," he said. "We, as Americans, have to protect ourselves.
"All you have to do is spend some time in other countries and realize that we live in the best country in the world."
