U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen Honor 9/11 Fallen With Flags

ANNAPOLIS, MD — In memory of the fallen from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, hundreds of midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis placed 2,977 American flags in the ground along Stribling Way at the academy.

Each flag represents a victim from the attacks. Andrew Panik placed his American flag into the ground in honor of his uncle, Lt. Martin Panik, who died at the Pentagon on 9/11.

“Three days later they identified his body because he had both of his hips replaced and they didn’t burn," Panik told WJLA.

Even though Panik and other midshipmen were too young to remember the events of that fateful day, it did shape him and others. Panik said he joined the Navy in honor of his uncle.

"It's a huge dream of mine to fill those shoes and make him proud as best as I could," Panik told WJLA. “A lot of people look at my generation and think we can’t have an impact or we can’t remember it but it’s something I hold near and dear to my heart and it’s just amazing.”

According to the U.S. Naval Academy, small groups of midshipmen also will be running the perimeter of the Naval Academy grounds today, Sept. 11, from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. The midshipmen will be running with the American flag to honor the lives lost on 9/11.

The 9/11 Reflection and Evening Colors will start at 6:30 p.m. in Tecumseh Court with the commandant and command chaplain leading a tribute event at that time. The guest speaker will be New York City firefighter Lt. John Breen who served as a first responder in New York City the day of Sept. 11, 2001.