To commemorate the 18th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, John Jay held several events honoring the lives lost because of the terrorist attack, recalling their service, reflecting on the day, and reaffirming our commitment to help serve each other. To kick off the tributes, President Karol V. Mason spoke about the events and their importance for John Jay. “As a community, we gather to pay tribute to our John Jay family members who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001,” said Mason. “Every time you stand up for justice, every time you help those in need, every time that you attend a class with the hope of making the world a safer, better, more just place—you’re honoring their memory.”

Students, faculty, and staff all came together on Sept. 9 to plant 2,977 flags on the Jay Walk. Each flag represented a life lost on September 11, 2001, including 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 police officers, and 37 Port Authority officers. At the center of the Jay Walk were 67 John Jay flags, a representation of our alumni lost that day. “As we plant the flags, we make a visual statement that John Jay remains the kind of place filled with people who commit, who serve, and who risk themselves for others,” said Richard Pusateri, Military and Veteran Services Manager.

During the 9/11 Tribute Ceremony on September 10, our community gathered around our 9/11 memorial to light candles of remembrance for our 67 family members lost on that tragic day. Joining this ceremony were: Karol V. Mason, John Jay College President; Captain Jason Tama, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York, Captain of the Port; Nilda Hoffman ’02, NYPD Chief of Community Affairs Bureau; Michael Ajello, FDNY Manhattan Borough Commander; and Jules Kroll, Chair of the John Jay College Foundation Board of Trustees. “On that day, nearly 3,000 people died. Most of them were civilians of all nationalities going about their daily lives. Thanks to the heroism of first responders, military personnel, federal agents, and volunteers, thousands of civilians were safely evacuated from the ruins of the World Trade Center,” Kroll said. “These people were competent, caring, and heroic. We will never forget what first responders did for us. We will always remember their sacrifice.”

Rounding out our 9/11 Tribute was the Meal Pack for 9/11 event held on September 11, which turned a day of tragedy into a day of service. Boarding the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, the John Jay community proudly participated in the pack-a-thon—one of many across the country—that saw volunteers come together with a common goal of assembling healthy, dry meals for those in need. “September 11 is a day to remember the heroism and the people who sacrificed their lives,” said Jack Nugent ’23. “Being at this pack-a-thon seems like a small act, but it’s an incredible act of goodwill. Giving back to the community is our way of honoring those we lost and using their sacrifice as a reminder that we must be united, we must do good, and we must be kind to one another.”