Pepperdine Community Gathers to Raise Annual Waves of Flags Memorial

The Pepperdine community—including students, alumni, staff, faculty, and friends of the University—placed 2,977 flags across Alumni Park on Saturday morning, September 5, in remembrance of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 

As Americans gather to remember the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Waves of Flags memorial, now in its 18th consecutive year, continues to serve as a powerful reminder of each life lost. Located along the Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road, the display features an American flag representing each American victim, as well as international flags symbolizing the home countries of the victims from abroad. 

Jim Gash (JD ’93), president and CEO of Pepperdine University joined the Pepperdine community to participate in the flag raising. He offered remarks about the profound significance of the tradition, including the sacrifice of first responders and veterans during and following the terrorist attacks.

Hung Le (’87, MA ’03), vice chancellor of alumni affairs, read aloud a poem he authored following a profound experience he had walking through the Waves of Flags display a few years ago. Each year the Alumni Affairs team, under Le’s leadership, hosts the flag-raising ceremony. 

Left: Pepperdine student athletes installing flags. Right: President Jim Gash (JD '93) offering remarks alongside military veterans. 

First-year students participating in the flag raising, such as John Tasker, remarked that the annual display serves as a profound call to never forget those who perished that day. While placing an American flag within the grooves of its metal holder, he noted that the memorial has taken on newfound significance as a generation of Americans does not have a lived memory of the 9/11 attacks.

Trasker at one year old amid Pepperdine's Waves of Flags

Tasker plans to “return to this flag raising every year.” With grandparents local to the Malibu area, the Seaver first-year explained that he has early memories of sitting among the sea of flags when his family would annually gather for picnics on the Alumni Park lawn. 

“Waves of Flags is an eye-catching display that prompts many young people to research the story behind it,” says Tasker. “It is a full circle experience for me to now help to construct this display after having childhood memories in the shade of these flags. It is important to remember  this tragedy and its many victims.” 

Student-athletes from across Pepperdine’s sports teams, including members of the baseball, beach volleyball, and basketball teams, as well as others, joined the volunteer effort. Pepperdine parents, local and from across the country, also contributed their time placing the 2,977 flags. 

Pause and Reflect Station to write "We Remember" cards

By noon, all flags had been planted across Pepperdine’s Alumni Park lawn, serving as a beacon of remembrance for all those who drive by or choose to walk through the display. Attendees present on Saturday were invited to write messages of reflection and prayers on the provided “We Remember” cards and attach them to any flagpole.

Waves of Flags was launched by student members of the College Republicans club in 2009 and has continued in perpetuity due to community support. From September 6 to 18, Pepperdine invites the community to visit the annual Waves of Flags display, where visitors will have the opportunity to express their reflections and sympathies for the victims by attaching notecards to the flagpoles. 

In addition to the annual flag display, the Thomas E. Burnett Jr. Heroes Garden serves as a permanent remembrance of September 11 on Pepperdine’s Malibu campus. Namesake Pepperdine alumnus Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. (MBA ‘95) was a passenger aboard the fourth hijacked jetliner, United Flight 93, which passengers deliberately crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to avoid causing greater destruction in a populated area. 

For more information about Pepperdine’s annual commemoration of the terror attacks on 9/11, visit the Waves of Flags website.