Hosted by MSU’s Athletic Department, the tribute gathered around 45 participants from across campus and the East Lansing to contribute to the 2,977 yards required to meet the goal of one yard per life lost on 9/11.

“This is our fourth year hosting this event, and each year its grown,” Zachary Stichnoth, assistant director of athletic performance, said. “We’re really trying to grow this event, including everyone that is a part of the Michigan State community. We don’t want to limit it to employees or athletes, but really to spread it around to anyone that wants to be involved.”

Invitations were also extended to first responders from the East Lansing area. Dressed in their protective gear, firefighters from the East Lansing Fire Department took part as an acknowledgement to the firefighters who climbed the thousands of steps of the World Trade Center before its collapse, with the hopes of finding and freeing survivors.

For some students, the 9/11 attacks left a tangible impact. Andrew Branam-Drock, an international relations senior and U.S. Army veteran, is from New York and was 5 at the time of the attacks.

“I remember that day pretty clearly, getting picked up from preschool and my mom freaking out,” Branam-Drock said. “I’d say the majority students at MSU weren’t even alive when 9/11 happened, so it’s not exactly real for them. But it’s real for me.”

Branam-Drock said that he believes that events like this help to ground the reality of the attacks for those that weren’t alive to experience them.

“These public showings are important. They say, ‘Hey, people still remember this, this is still super important, this was a major attack on the United States,’ ” Branam-Drock said.

Stichnoth said this event was a great way to honor and remember the lives lost.

“It really is important to honor the idea of 'Never Forget,' by doing something to remember them," Stichnoth said.