Bob Reid’s weathered hands steadily pulled the American flag to the top of the pole and then back down to its resting place at half staff to commemorate the one year passing of a national tragedy.

As the man on campus who has hoisted the American flags up the poles every morning and down again almost every night for nine years, Reid knows an executive order from the president to fly all flags half staff is a rare occasion reserved for the most somber of events.

As he steadily tugged away at the white rope, lifting America’s most sacred symbol, Reid said he couldn’t help but think of all the people who lost their lives and the families who lost loved ones.

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Doing his job is how he chose to cope with the flood of emotion the one year anniversary of Sept. 11 sent running through America. Like many others, SIUC’s flag master didn’t feel compelled to join hands with neighbors or grieve in public ceremonies. He didn’t want to watch the news programs and relive all the raw, untamed emotions of last year.

“I guess the Good Man just meant for me to work my flags and show my sentiment that way,” Reid said.

A construction worker who calls himself Jim pauses from his work at Altgeld Hall. Repositioning himself on a ladder, he lowers his head and then declares, “I don’t know what to think about Sept. 11.”

He’s thought about it all year and today is no different. It’s just that those feelings aren’t easily summed up in words.

“It’s definitely changed the way America lives,” he said before turning to his co-worker to exchange a comment and then back toward the building and his work.

Fang Tan stood on the sidelines near the Old Main Flag Pole snapping pictures with her camera as the Air Force and Army R.O.T.C. gathered to raise the flag and render a 21-gun salute.

“I came to America and I wanted to touch the real feeling of America,” said Tan, an international student from Jinan, China, “Sept. 11 is just a day that changed America.”

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Tan said she was at school in Beijing last year when terrorists attacked America around midnight in China. She received an e-mail about it that night, but didn’t pay much attention to it because it all seemed so unbelievable. It didn’t sink in until the next day.

“It’s just a terrible tragedy, so as a human being you have to feel concerned,” Tan said.

Early in the morning Jeremy Huff sat on the steps outside of the SIU School of Medicine Office in Wheeler Hall where he works. It was the same place he was exactly one year ago. He said no one talked for almost an hour last year in the SIUC School of Medicine office. Things were fairly normal Wednesday, but thoughts of Sept. 11 still cross his mind on occasion.

“I thought about it last night, just remembering it, you know,” said Huff, a sophomore from Blueford. “Thinking back on it, it makes me sad to think about it.”

One year ago, students crowded thick around the televisions and remained glued to them for most of the day. They watched and waited to hear the death toll and to listen to President Bush. On Wednesday, the crowd in front of McDonald’s was bigger than in the TV lounge.

Though the mood was much calmer and serene, students still found ways to express their feelings about America and Sept. 11.

Jabari Loving wore his Air Force R.O.T.C uniform with pride Wednesday following an early morning commemoration for United States soldiers.

“It’s kinda like you’re representing,” said Loving, an administration of justice graduate student. “It’s very special – especially on days like this.”

Adam Dorta, a sophomore from Chicago, passed out fliers in the Faner passageway protesting against military action by the United States.

The Shawnee Green Party unveiled a 20 by 20 foot peace sign made from sewed-together sheets.

“When you sow the seeds of violence you end up breeding violence,” said Joel Landry of the Undergraduate Student Government and Shawnee Greens member.

At noon, shoes in pairs of two trod past the American flag and stopped at the microphone on the steps of Shryock Auditorium Wednesday to recognize the diverse walks of life that make up the SIUC community.

They came in flip-flops and clogs, boots and heels, sandals and tennis shoes. They carried gays, browns, blacks, whites, lesbians, ministers, professors, students, administrators and secretaries to a place in the center where a rainbow of carnations signifying a union of diverse faces.

“We want to be one world seeking to learn from one another at SIUC,” said Pastor Robert Gray around noon as the sun finally won out over the bleak morning sky and a cool breeze and the steady beat of the Southern Illinois West African drumming ensemble gave life to the American flag flying from the steps.

Looking down on SIUC from the balcony of Shryock Auditorium, it was clear that SIUC had a steady pulse.

Reporter Molly Parker can be reached at [email protected]