The patriotic display gave a colorful backdrop to Monday's Veterans Day program
LAWRENCE -- Rider University's campus lawn transformed into a sea of red, white and blue this weekend as students, staff and families planted 12,000 American flags as part of an effort to pay respect to all veterans.
The patriotic display, now in its third year, gave a colorful backdrop to Monday's Veterans Day program.
"Today our goal is simple: to pay our deep respect to those service members who have shown the courage to serve and protect our country, both at home and abroad," said Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Russel Melville, the university's veterans coordinator. "The individuals we honor today come from all walks of life, yet they share the fundamental qualities of pride, determination, selflessness and a dedication to duty and integrity."
MORE: For vets in trouble, a pathway to help | Di Ionno
The number of flags has grown each year from 6,756 to memorialize the American soldiers killed since Oct. 7, 2001 to 10,000 and now 12,000.
A special marker was set up to honor 1st Lt. Omar J. Vazquez, a 2007 alum who was killed April 22, 2011 after a roadside bomb attack in southern Iraq.
The flags will be on display for at least a week.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.