9/11 memorial in Malibu stops traffic

They've been working on the memorial for days, close to 3,000 American flags placed in a precise grid on the vast, velvety lawn of Pepperdine University in Malibu. That's one for each victim of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the day life as we know it changed forever.

Drivers on PCH have watched as students and workers measured the lawn, set stakes and drew lines, placed markers and then measured again. This morning, commuters were met with the sight of the flags moving and snapping in a stiff ocean breeze. Drivers pulled over, pulled out cameras and formed impromptu groups as they watched in silence. "Beautiful," one woman said. "And terrible."

That's Kelsey Grammer in the photo, who stopped like the rest of us, moved by the sight, by the simplicity of it.

"I was on the way back from taking my children to school," Grammer said. "I just had to stop. Amazing, isn't it?"

Yes. And terrible, too.

--Veronique de Turenne

Top photo: Brian Vander Brug   Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Rich]

Not to be bizarre, I was in NYC on that Tuesday morning, heading into work in midtown... but... weren't there people killed who weren't US citizens? Should we just put American flags as placeholders for citizens from other countries? It smacks of nationalistic appropriation of the dead.

[frank]

It's seems that people remember about 9/11, but forgot which president let it happen. I feel real bad for the victims and familys, but what the government did for the familys after 9/11 is the same thing China did to quite the familys of the children who died at there schools after the big eartquake. Lets remember what happened that day, but lets not forget who was the man who failed to protect us.

[Rich]

Just did a little googling, over 200 of the victims of the 9/11 tragedy were not US citizens. The largest subgroup were Indian and UK I believe.

Here's a story of a different University doing a similar thing... but with the proper flags...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1979607.cms

[Bonnie]

Yes, I remember what president brought all this on, Bill Clinton. Bush was only in office 9 months. It has been proven that the terrorist planned this way back in 1996. The towers were bombed in 1993, USS Cole was attacked in the 1990's, where 19 American Sailors were killed.

[Ron]

I agree with "frank". Clinton should have taken out Bin Laden when he had the chance. He spent more time with Monica than he did the CIA director.

This was a great way to honor those who were murdered.

[Bonnie]

To me this shows the human side of celebrities. And not all are like the typical liberal celebrities.

[C.D.]

As a New Yorker, I can appreciate the gesture. However, as others have pointed out, citizens of other countries died that day. They should be recognized & honored as well.

[Heart Swells]

What a beautiful sight, and the comments of the residents are more impressive as the word spread like wildfire in the hills (Malibu speak). A huge thank you to each and every student working on this effort as it is pure art reminding us of the strength in our communal grief and gives resolve to ensure that such tragedy has no ability to overcome what or who we are.
For someone to suggest that flags of other nations be posted, I find your posts downright silly rather than provocative or enlightening. Guess you'd have problems as to where those flags get posted in reference to the US flags too - go do your own thing in your front lawn and stop trying to negatively impact what is a very positive effort by student volunteers. You might do well to consider that those foreign workers came to the US to partake of the very liberty and freedom that the flag represents?
I received phone calls, emails and visits describing the personal impacts the sight caused as well as very emotional descriptions of others who pulled over and lined up, taking photos and walking among the flags. I went last night, hoping for a chance to be alone and found myself with many others - wish that you could somehow capture the sounds of those flags as the wind kept them active and almost alive.
Simple beauty in such a setting truly makes one reflect, I hold these students in the highest regard and pray that their futures are as bright as they made yesterday for so many. Breathtakingly stunning sight.

[Rich]

I suppose Heart Swells would prefer if 7 years down the line, students at a school in Iraq will honor fallen US servicemen with Iraqi flags? Or that Syracuse University students killed in the Locharbee bombings were honored with British flags?

Someone didn't do their homework and forgot that everyone isn't an American: From the Pepperdine Web Site:
"Each flag will represent an innocent American life lost in the terrorist attacks," says Ryan Sawtelle, president of the College Republicans

Whoops.

[Bryan]

What's with the degenerative comments about who's responsible or who didn't do what. As a Pepperdine student I was moved to see the site and honored that my school was the one who did it. I didn't know what the guys measuring on the hill were doing until I drove to class on 9/11. The people's comments are correct, it's both beautiful and terrible at the same time. But 7 years on it serves as a reminder that it's our duty to carry in our thoughts the events of that day, the lives lost (no matter what country they're from), and families affected.

[jake]

wow, did you seriously blame Bush for 9/11? people like you are sick in the head. all you liberals do is blame every problem on bush. he's a true patriot who has kept us safe SINCE 9/11. if we hadnt gone after al qaeda in iraq and afghan, we would be fighting on our own soil!! he will go down in history as a great president who did what he knew was right for this country, instead of just basing his decisions on polls and what you lunatics preach. look at what congress has done since the democrats took over. all they do is base their decisions on polls....and whats the result? a crappy economy and a SINGLE-DIGIT approval rating. they are pathetic and have done absolutely nothing to help the country. they are the ones to blame for the economy right now. pelosi and reid should be deported for wanting us to lose in iraq and not willing to fund our troops. if anyone is to blame for 9/11 it is Bill Clinton...he had bin laden on a silver platter and did not take the chance. all these pathetic democrats do is hinder progress for their own selfish agendas and power.

George W. Bush = my hero & true American patriot

[MaryAnn E. Miller]

This is such a beautiful site to see on my computer. I live in New York and have felt 9/11 since it't inception when I was at work and heard it on the radio. I personally did not lose anyone but lost a lot even though I was miles away. Thank You for doing this and for letting me see it. I am an American and whom ever died in this tragedy was a loss no matter what. Thank you again for caring, it seems like so many people forget.

[Lysis]

On that terrible day, everyone who died in the WTC became Americans.

[Brooklin Nash]

To Rich -

Thanks for your observation. Pepperdine students did indeed place not only American flags, but the flags of the 92 countries represented in those who were killed on September 11th. Of course those people ought to be honored as well - and they are out on the lawn of Pepperdine today.

Brooklin

[Brooklin Nash]

P.S. I am a Pepperdine student, and have talked to those who have participated in this memorial. There are the flags for the 92 countries that were affected in 2001 - not just American flags.

[Katie Vaughan]

Actually Pepperdine does have flags representing the individual nationalities of the victims of 9/11 - this picture just happens to show some of the American Flags. Take a drive by. Amazing. Never forget.

[Kris]

The article doesn't say that 92 countries were also represented by their flags, honoring all who lost their lives (not just Americans). May God always bless us and may we never forget.

[Ray Ray]

Actually there were flags that represented the nations of each person who lost their lives. So, it wasn't simply a nationalistic portrayal. It was much more inclusive.

peace and love

[Em]

Um, the reason why the article and many of these comments are inconsistent is because this article is from last year. THIS YEAR Pepperdine added flags representing all the countries who lost citizens, but it was not the case last year. You're now commenting on a story and photos from 2008.

[shiloh]

I am a Pepperdine Alumni and while I am going to USC now, I will most likely drive out there to view this over the weekend. I appreciate that I was part of a community that really encourages its youth to acknowledge and respect those who have provided the privileged life we had there (even as students) and that we have in the US....

I recommend driving up to hero's garden at the top of campus as well to view the flags from there :)

[AdoptiveFather, Los Angeles CA]

"........but lets not forget who was the man who failed to protect us.

Posted by: frank | September 11, 2008 at 04:18 PM

Don't worry frank, nobody will ever forget that clinton was focused on Monica when the CIA gave him opportunity to kill obama bin laden.

We will never forget!

[Bec]

For those that lost their lives that day and were not US citizens, there is a flag on Pepperdine's lawn that is from that person's country. There are not just US flags flying.

[C.K.]

Thank you for the wonderful memorial to honor people who shouldn’t have died that day.
To all the volunteers, you will never know how many lives around the US and I’m sure around the world you have made an impact on.

I do have to add that “if 7 years down the line, students at a school in Iraq honor fallen US servicemen with Iraqi flags” I will be just as honored as if they had placed American flags or any other flag because they would be honoring our US troops.

I think the point of this memorial is to REMEMBER. That’s all.
Thank you again.