Dennis Quaid Headlines Pepperdine's 17th 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

When Dennis Quaid, actor took the podium at 9/11 Remembrance CeremonyAlumni Park on the Pepperdine campus, the crowd felt both the weight of history and a surprisingly hopeful breath of resilience.

The ceremony unfolded Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, drawing students, faculty, veterans and community members to Alumni Park on the sprawling Malibu campus. Chancellor Sara Young Jackson opened the program, reminding listeners that President Jim Gash has called the event a "critically important" tradition for the university.

Historical Context and the Growing Tradition

Back in 2008, a handful of Pepperdine students launched what became the Waves of Flags display—a solemn line of 2,977 flags planted along Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road, each one representing a victim of the 2001 attacks. Funded by a $1 million endowment, the installation has morphed from a student project into a campus landmark.

The ceremony marks the 24th anniversary of the twin tragedies that felled the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, claiming 2,977 innocent lives. Over the years, the observance has attracted high‑profile speakers, from Chris Pratt in 2022 to Gary Sinise in 2023, cementing Pepperdine’s role as an educational steward of memory.

Flag Display and Symbolism

Before the program began, volunteers led attendees through the sea of flags. Each American flag stood alongside a national banner representing foreign citizens who perished that day. The visual impact was striking—an ocean of cloth fluttering against the Pacific breezes, a reminder that loss knows no borders.

After the speeches, Dennis Quaid, Commander C2 and nonprofit historian Eric Lashinsky joined forces to raise the final flag, symbolically completing the memorial for that year.

Speakers and Reflections

Dee Dee Dee Mayer, senior director of RelateStrong at the Boone Center for the Family and interim university chaplain, delivered a moving tribute. "We remember the courage of first responders, the quiet strength of families, and the unity that bound us together in those days of grief," she said.

In a poignant moment, the assembly observed a minute of silence for right‑wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah the day before. The inclusion sparked a brief, respectful pause, underscoring that remembrance can cross partisan lines.

When Dennis Quaid addressed the crowd, he wove personal family history with national narrative. "These people, by their selfless service and sacrifice, are the steel that makes us strong," he declared. He traced his grandparents’ experiences from the Great Depression through World War II, linked those hardships to the resolve shown on 9/11, and urged the audience to "answer a higher calling" when duty demands.

Other Pepperdine voices added texture: Armando Yee, Jr. ('12) read a poem; Lucy Zahran shared a personal letter; siblings Pamella Zamrzla and Johnny Zamrzla offered prayers. Their contributions highlighted the ceremony’s community‑driven spirit.

Impact and Future Outlook

Beyond solemn remembrance, the event serves an educational purpose. High‑school groups touring the campus report that the flag line and the Heroes Garden at the Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., Heroes Garden inspire discussions about civic duty, national security, and the price of freedom.

Looking ahead, Pepperdine plans to expand the endowment to ensure the display remains weather‑resilient. Organizers also hope to integrate virtual reality tours, allowing remote viewers to “walk” among the flags—a nod to the digital age while preserving the tactile reverence of the site.

Reactions from the Campus and Beyond

Students voiced a mix of gratitude and curiosity. "Seeing every flag makes the numbers real," sophomore Maya Patel said. "It’s hard to imagine 2,977 individual stories without this visual." Alumni on the livestream echoed that sentiment, noting how the ceremony bridges generations.

Local officials, including Malibu’s mayor, praised the university for its “thoughtful stewardship of collective memory.” A spokesperson for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum called Pepperdine’s approach “a model for academic institutions nationwide.”

What's Next?

The next ceremony is slated for September 11, 2026, with hopes of inviting a survivor panel to share firsthand accounts. Meanwhile, the university’s history department is compiling oral histories from attendees, planning a digital archive that could become a resource for scholars and teachers alike.