Waves of flags, Pepperdine remembers 9/11

American flag at the Waves of Flags at the Pepperdine University 9/11 Rememberance Ceremony Alumni Park on Friday, September 11, 2026, Malibu, Calif.. 2977 American flags and 90 international flags were placed, one for each person who died on 9/11. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Bagpipe trio plays Amazing Grace at the end of the Waves of Flags the 9/11 Ceremony at Pepperdine University Alumni Park on Friday, September 11, 2026, Malibu, Calif.. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Pepperdine University Executive Vice President Phil Philips Presiding during the 9/11 Rememberance Ceremony at Alumni Park on Friday, September 11, 2026, Malibu, Calif. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

A prayer card ptied tot he pull of an American flag at the Waves of Flags at the Pepperdine University 9/11 Rememberance Ceremony Alumni Park on Friday, September 11, 2026, Malibu, Calif. People had the opportuniy to place a prayer card on flag, they could write to a fallen loved one or prayer. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

(R) Preident and Chief Excutive Officer Jim Gash gives honorary flag award to (L) Chris Fields at the Pepperdine University Waves of Flags 9/11 Rememberance Ceremony at Alumni Park on Friday, September 11, 2026, Malibu, Calif. Fields worked the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Pepperdine University students (L) Jillian George 21, international relations major and (R) Kai Pruismann 22, finance major at the 9/11 Rememberance Ceremony at Alumni Park on Friday, September 11, 2026, Malibu, Calif. Both students are members of epperdine Ambassadors Council. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Retire Major of the Oklahoma City Fire Department Chris Fields give the keynote address at the Pepperdine University Waves of Flags 9/11 Rememberance Ceremony at Alumni Park on Friday, September 11, 2026, Malibu, Calif. Fields worked the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Pepperdine University held its 25th annual Wave of Flags, honoring those killed by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Nearly 3,000 flags line Alumni Park, each representing a victim. The ceremony's keynote speaker was Chris Fields, a retired major from the Oklahoma City Fire Department, who served as a first responder during the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. 

“The event's purpose was to honor those who died and remember loved ones that we kissed goodbye, not knowing it would be for the last time,” Fields said. 

On Sept. 11, 2001, four commercial airliners were hijacked. American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were both scheduled to fly from Boston to Los Angeles. The terrorists flew the planes into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. After the impact, both towers collapsed. 

A third plane, a Boeing 757 scheduled to leave Dulles Airport for Los Angeles, was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Another Boeing 757 was hijacked, and it is believed the target was the U.S. Capitol or the White House. Passengers on the flight fought back, and the airliner crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 

Fields also wanted people to remember Sept. 12 and the days following the attack. No one talked about what would happen after the funerals. Fields shared his struggles with anger following the Oklahoma City bombing. He stressed that strength is not pretending you’re okay. It’s saying you’re not okay and need help. 

“We remember families that had an empty chair at the table for 25 years,” Fields said.

Pepperdine University Senior Vice Chancellor Hung Lee was at his desk at Pepperdine when the Twin Towers collapsed. Lee had worked downtown New York City a couple of years before. Lee said he remembered feeling terrified as he watched people run down the street where he had once worked. Lee said Thomas Burnett, an employee of Pepperdine, was killed on Flight 93.

Jillian George, 21, an international relations major at Pepperdine, spoke about the importance of community and remembering the individuals lost in the event. “I want people to know that people in my generation do remember,” George said.

Kai Pruismann, 22, a finance major at Pepperdine, said he attended the ceremony because he felt it was important to unite and “bring people together. Take any opportunity to come together as a community.”

 “It was important to tell the next generation what happened on 9/12, the day after. Tell them how people came together. We saw neighbors hurting and coming together,” Fields said. “We should not need a national tragedy to remember we are human beings. We need to take care of each other.”