A member of MSU Young Americans for Freedom places an American flag in the ground during preparations for a 9/11 memorial at The Rock on Michigan State University’s campus in East Lansing, Mich., on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. The organizations placed 2,977 flags around The Rock, one for each victim killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Red, white and blue blanketed the field near The Rock on Farm Lane as Michigan State University students planted 2,977 flags to honor the lives lost during the 25-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The memorial service was organized by Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), Student Veterans of America, Turning Point USA and MSU College Republicans. State Rep. Julie Brixie, D-Meridian Township, was also in attendance.
Students painted the American flag on The Rock, writing “never forget” and “2,977 lives" in gold spray paint.
YAF vice chairman Aiden Haas said he wanted the event to remind people to come together to honor 9/11, regardless of political affiliation.
“This is a great nonpartisan event,” Haas said. “We’re memorializing all the lives that were lost, all the heroes that died that day in the greatest attack on our country.”
Elementary education sophomore Emma Payne, a member of YAF, said regardless of whether students were present for the attacks, it is important to recognize the severity of the event.
“We need to talk about 9/11 as something we should never forget,” Payne said. “This (event) really helped me realize how devastating it truly was.”
Every flag planted by students represented a life lost at the World Trade Center on 9/11, including building employees, visitors to the complex, firefighters, law enforcement or passengers on the hijacked planes.
“While we might disagree on a lot of things, we can all say this was a national tragedy,” public policy and history senior Robert McHale said. “People came out and helped because they know how big of a deal this is.”
Seeing 30 people show up to the event was "really special," Payne said.
“We all believe that we should protect our country, freedom, and rights in the Constitution," Payne said. "We all believe in that regardless of religion."
Agribusiness management junior Kourt Lan, a Student Veterans of America member, attended the event because of his time in military service, saying he was able to understand the weight of the tragedy.
“I’ve known plenty of people that have lost something within the last 25 years, whether it’s part of their ability to function as a person or lost a loved one,” Lan said. “I feel this is a small way to try to give back and try to remember it.”
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