Eleventh Annual Waves of Flags Display Honors 9/11 Victims
For the 11th consecutive year, Pepperdine University’s Alumni Park will become home to the University’s
annual Waves of Flags installation that, since 2008, has commemorated the lives lost
in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.
Waves of Flags will feature a display of a total of 2,977 full-size flags—2,887 American flags for each American life lost and 90 various international flags representing the home countries of those from abroad who died in the 9/11 attacks.
The installation became a University tradition in 2008 when the Pepperdine College Republicans, inspired by a similar display, wanted to bring the tribute to the University. Since then, Waves of Flags has become a significant service project for the Pepperdine community. On Saturday, September 8, 2018, a group of more than 200 volunteers, including Pepperdine faculty, staff, students, and Malibu community members, joined together to install and raise the flags.
In addition to the Waves of Flags installation, the Pepperdine community is invited to observe September 11 in honor of the heroes who were lost in 2001 with a brief service to remember the fallen and pray for peace and reconciliation. The service, hosted by the Pepperdine Office of the President and Office of the Chaplain, will be held Tuesday, September 11, at noon at the Thomas E. Burnett Jr. Heroes Garden on the Malibu campus. Heroes Garden is a public space for visitors to reflect and honor all those who live heroic lives, including Pepperdine alumnus Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. (MBA ’95), a passenger on United Flight 93 whose life was cut short in the 9/11 attacks. A plaque at the garden's entrance reads: "Dedicated to freedom's heroes of September 11, 2001, and the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, among them Pepperdine alumnus Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., who sacrificed their lives to overcome terrorists’ intent on destroying American lives and landmarks in our nation's capital. We shall never forget."
Waves of Flags is open to the public for viewing and visitation at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road until Monday, September 24, 2018.