On September 11, 2026, members of the Stony Brook University community gathered at the university’s 9/11 Memorial Arch to honor and remember those whose lives were affected by the tragedy.
As part of the day’s remembrance, community members participated in a tradition of placing white roses at the memorial while also painting rocks that will become part of a new garden installation near the memorial.
“It has been a privilege to work with the September 11 Programming Committee to organize meaningful events that commemorate the anniversary of the attacks of 9/11/2001,” said Kristin Cuomo, community relations liaison and member of the September 11 Programming Committee. “So many members of our community have been affected by these events, and taking the time to remember and educate is an important role that we play as a university and an academic healthcare system.”
Stony Brook University students, faculty and staff were invited to paint the rocks, each adding their own designs or messages before they became part of the garden. Among other things, these rocks offered the community a lasting way to remember loved ones.
One student wrote a message to his uncle who passed during the tragedy, before they were born, while others painted symbols of peace and messages such as a white rose and “never forget.”
Ellen Cooke, senior director, Marketing and Communications, and Campus Beautification Committee (CBC) E-Board member, said, “This type of collaborative project is what the CBC is all about, and we were so happy and proud to play a part in remembering and honoring those affected by 9/11. In addition to providing students with the opportunity to leave lasting artistic legacies across campus, the CBC’s aim is to build community. And events like these — rock painting, mural drawing, etc. — allow students, faculty and staff to come together and collectively express themselves and all Stony Brook University stands for… in the moment, but also as part of what will be a more permanent addition and enhancement to our campus, in this case, a rock garden of peace, love and healing.”
The new rock garden will also provide an additional space for members of the university community to pause, reflect and remember. Together, the individual rocks will form a collective installation near the existing memorial.
“Creative expression is one of the most natural ways that we, as humans, elucidate our feelings. Making space for people to visually create and share around the loss, disruption and other aftershocks of September 11 is an ideal way to connect our campus community to these events across generations,” Cuomo said.
As the garden takes shape, the painted rocks will become part of a lasting tribute created by the community itself, carrying messages of remembrance, peace, love and healing for generations of Seawolves to come.
— Humayra Noor
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