post has photos

The University of San Diego (USD) honored the heroes and victims of 9/11 with its annual September 11 Memorial on Wednesday morning inside the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Theatre.

The ceremony included interfaith prayers for peace, the playing of "Taps," a moving rendition of "Amazing Grace" by Tresurea Nelson, USN, Ret., a powerful performance of "You'll Never Walk Alone" by USD students Carly O'Rear and Elliot Hayes and remarks from City of San Diego Fire Captain Brandt Truver, who serves at Station 44 in Mira Mesa.

Truver is board president for FirefighterAid, a local nonprofit that provides charitable assistance to firefighters and families in crisis, and promotes awareness of Firefighter health and safety issues and the impacts they have upon families and communities. During his speech, Truver emphasized the importance of gratitude, referencing Austen Brower's book of the same name.

"In his book, he says, 'gratitude gives us the lens to reflect and rebuild broken or painful moments into more positive ones'," shared Truver, a Torero lifelong learner who completed a Professional and Continuing Education certificate in Nonprofit Management from USD.

Truver provided many examples of gratitude toward first responders before concluding by thanking those in attendance at the ceremony, including dozens of NROTC San Diego members.

"I look out at all of you here today, I am so grateful for your presence," he said. "By being here, you say 'I stand with and support our first responders, those men and women who run to danger when the bell rings'.

"No amount of gratitude can completely heal the wounds that were created on September 11th, but it is my sincere hope that we, and our next generation, never forget the sacrifice that was made that day. And each year, may we continue to practice our humble gratitude for those who responded."

The university holds its September 11 event annually to remember victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This year marked the 23nd anniversary of the attacks on United States soil that killed nearly 3,000 people.

- Story and photos by Matthew Piechalak