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Sept. 11 observance to honor alumni Tolbert, Beamer

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President John D. Welty will hold a special tribute service at noon on Sept. 11, the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

The service in the Peace Garden will memorialize the victims of the attack, including two Fresno State alumni, Lt. Col. Vincent Tolbert and Todd Beamer.

More than 500 red, white and blue ribbons will be tied on trees surrounding the campus and Bulldog Stadium in cooperation with Tree Fresno. Two trees in memory of Tolbert and Beamer will be planted in the Peace Garden.

Tolbert, who died in the Pentagon when it was struck by an airplane hijacked by terrorists, attended Fresno State in the early 1980s and played for the Bulldogs football team.

Beamer, who attended Fresno State for two semesters in 1988, was one of the passengers who fought terrorists in a third airplane believed to be headed for the White House and forced it to crash in Pennsylvania field instead. He is known for the rallying cry, "Let's roll!"

The ribbon-tying will take place on Sept. 10. Student, staff, faculty and community volunteers are invited to participate with the preparation of the ribbons and tying them onto the trees. In addition to the tree planting, Tree Fresno volunteers will assist with the ribbons also.

The university's Army and Air Force ROTCs will participate by presenting the colors at the noon service and conducting a morning flag-raising service.

Back to University Journal, 09/03/02 Issue