In its 12th consecutive year, the Exchange Club of Tempe and city officials coordinated 9/11 Memorial Healing Fields event on Friday. There were various events at Tempe Beach Park commemorating the lives that were lost on September 11, 2001.
The Exchange Club hosted a Candlelight Vigil where candles were posted at each of the 3,000 American flags that represent the number of lives that were lost that day. The vigil featured guests who had first hand experiences the morning of the attacks, including keynote speaker Mike McAvoy who lost an older brother and best friend at the World Trade Center in New York City.
The Healing Field featured lawn signs with detailed information, such as the names of those who lost their lives in the attacks, with the goal to educate the public and newer generations, particularly ASU students.
“I remember getting home from school and peering over my parents because they didn’t let me watch the TV and seeing one of the plane crashes. It’s just seems crazy to think it happened fourteen years ago,” senior Sara Fullagar said.
A day that struck the world, many international ASU students remember this day to be quite significant for them and how they viewed the U.S. from that point forward.
“We were watching the morning news and we were all thinking how could this be happening the United States if they are a peaceful country. We were all in shock,” Irene Nijeri, an ASU student from Kenya, said.
One of the founding members of the Healing Field is Michael Whiticker, a Tempe resident and Exchange Club Member. Whiticker is accredited for being the one who had the vision of the Healing Field and calls the success of the event to be pure serendipity.
“It’s the corporate sponsors, someone gets the flags, then someone gets the golf carts then boom it just happens and each year it get’s bigger and better,” Whiticker.
For many this field has been more than an opportunity to commemorate and remember the lives that were lost during the 9/11 attacks. Previously, Whiticker has been able to speak with many people from different backgrounds exchanging their stories but there was one instance that touched him and those around him.
The combat boots and rifles that are gathered for the Healing Field are all donated from locals from around the valley. There are combat boots from soldiers who served in World War II, Vietman and the Gulf War side by side with the flags at the field.
At this year’s event, 58 sponsors from around the Valley made the Healing Field possible. Whiticker hopes that tradition of the Healing Field continues to be hosted at the Tempe Town Lake for many years to come.
“I am looking forward to the next 12 years and the many years to continue after my time with this event,” Whiticker said.
The 9/11 Memorial Healing Field will remain standing until 6 p.m. on Sunday at Tempe Beach Park.
Reach the reporter at akramera@asu.edu or follow @alexismariek on Twitter.
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