As the American flag flew at half-mast, San Diego State joined together to remember 9/11.

On Tuesday, hundreds of students, staff and faculty gathered at the flagpole on Campanile Walkway to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost during the terrorist attacks 11 years ago. The memorial service, led by SDSU’s ROTC, included the raising and lowering of the flag, a moment of silence and a closing prayer.

SDSU junior, Sterling Morris, one student who took time out of his day to honor those who perished, expressed his support to the families who lost loved ones.

“They have an entire nation behind them and though we may not be able to each individually understand the depth of their loss . . . we are there to support them,” Morris said.

SDSU President Elliot Hirshman, spoke at the event, under-scoring the importance of such a memorial service.

“Today is a day when we all have heavy hearts,” he said. “But it’s also important to remember both the heroism and the sacrifice that occurred on 9/11,” Hirshman said.

As the flag waved, against the gray sky, SDSU junior Denise Thompson said she appreciated the memorial service.

“No matter what our beliefs, our age, our interests, our gender, our race,” Thompson said. “We’re all together at one moment in time that’s now in the history books forever.”