From McGraw Tower or the upper floors of Olin Library, the American flags arranged on the Arts Quad spell out "Remember 9/11." Placed there by Cornell students -- most of whom were not yet teenagers when the terrorist attacks occurred in 2001 -- the memorial is meant to "help everyone remember and reflect on what happened nine years ago," said ILR School student Peter Bouris '12, one of the organizers. The memorial is also a fundraiser for Veterans of Foreign Wars: A dollar will be donated for each flag placed into the ground by passersby.

Bouris said his involvement in the memorial has been "extremely fulfilling. Last night a gust of wind came up and the flags started waving at once. It was like reaching the top of the mountain." This is the memorial's second year at Cornell. The flags will remain on display until noon Saturday.

With the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 almost a decade past, the value of remembering the tremendous loss of life remains. "As we get further and further from the actual event, people just start to forget," said Meagan Tub '13. "I know it's kind of cliché, but it's nice to have a rememberance."

Erica Rhodin '12 contributed to this article.