Students honor freedom with new square
Purdue students dedicated Freedom Square on the south lawn of the Purdue Armory on Sunday, September 11, 2011, just prior to the Purdue 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony. (Purdue University/ Mark Simons)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University and Iron Key dedicated the new Freedom Square at 2 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 11).
Located on the lawn in front of the Purdue Armory, the square includes the seals of the five military branches, seating to encourage gatherings and an illuminated flagpole to allow the Stars and Stripes to wave day and night.
"The focus is to celebrate the freedom our country's citizens have earned and preserved, in a place of reflection and peace," said Purdue President France A. Córdova. "Our students have shown exemplary leadership in making this possible."
The project and related fundraising were the work of the Order of the Iron Key, a Purdue student society devoted to service-oriented leadership. More than 190 individuals and Purdue student organizations contributed $55,650 toward the project. The total does not include materials and labor donated by companies.
Students are chosen for the organization based on leadership and character. Their mission is to accomplish something without individual recognition and to learn how to move behind the scenes to achieve goals.
Writer: Jeanne Norberg, 765-494-2084, jnorberg@purdue.edu
Freedom Square and 9-11 Commemoration photo gallery
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