Each year on Sept. 11, the University of Houston-Downtown family comes out in full force for a day of service, or GatorServe. This year's event was especially mindful of this day in U.S. history.

On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, 149 students, faculty, staff members, alumni and community parners assembled to honor the memory of those who lost their lives during that day's tragic events. Among those in attendance was UHD President Loren J. Blanchard and Texas historian 1st Sgt. Ret. Donald Williams. Staff from Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis' office also were on hand to provide support.

Campus groups that volunteered at this event included the Student Government Association, the UHD Women's Soccer Team and the Beta Sigma Chapter of the Omega Delta Phi faternity.

Volunteers met at the Finnigan Park Community Center, then walked to the nearby Evergreen Historic Negro Cemetery to plant flowers, lay mulch and attend to this aging burial site in the Fifth Ward.

"My father always told me that we are called upon to do two things," said  President Blanchard. "To love ... and to serve. We are doing just that this morning."

The volunteer effort was coordinated by UHD's Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning in collaboration with the Why Not Legacy Group, Project R.E.S.P.E.C.T and Harris County's Precinct 1. Lunch was provided by Kitchen HTX.