Naval Academy, police honor those who died
2,977 flags placed ahead of Run to Remember on 22nd anniversary of attacks
In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, many throughout the nation sat and wondered what they could do to help New York City’s first responders. For Anne Arundel County Police Maj. Herbert Hasenpusch, helping his country meant going to the city.
Hasenpusch was one of nearly 100 Anne Arundel Police officers who traveled to New York in October 2001 to assist the New York Police Department with the aftermath of the attack.
“I felt better being there than sitting here twiddling my thumbs,” Hasenpusch said.
On Friday, ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil, he and several other officers who volunteered their services took part in laying 2,977 small U.S. flags along Stribling Walk in honor of those who died in the attacks. Fourteen additional, larger flags were also placed for the Naval Academy alumni who were killed.
The event was organized by the Midshipman Action Group, an on-campus organization aimed at providing Naval Academy students with community service opportunities. In addition to the flag-laying, the group will host a Run to Remember on Monday during which groups of four to six midshipmen will continuously run with the U.S. flag from Glenn Warner Field/Luce Hall to T-Court. The run will begin at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center, and conclude at approximately 5:20 p.m. to represent the time when the final tower fell.
Midshipman First Class Max Bueno, president of the action group, said the labor-intensive act of flag-laying and running represents the dedication to honor those fallen.
“The more you sweat in peacetime, the less you bleed in war,” he said. “And I think