Grosse Pointe South students create 9/11 flag tribute - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

On a picture perfect morning just like September 11, 2001, 2,977 American flags fluttered in the breeze, a visual reminder of those who lost their lives on that day.

Arranging the flags across the campus of Grosse Pointe South High School was the idea of Langston Bowens.  He said the impact was immediate, although not for the reason he expected.

"A woman came by when I was putting the flags down and she asked me, 'What are these flags for?'  And we told her it's for 9/11.  And she said, 'Oh, that's today?'  And to all of us, we thought this woman completely forgot that 9/11 happened today and she was 40 years old.  This happened in her lifetime."

Bowens, a senior, belongs to the Young Americans for Freedom, a group entirely run by students.

"My generation and the class behind me, we're the last two classes that actively remember where we were on 9/11.  I was in first grade when it happened.  I remember my teacher turning it on.  I remember watching on TV when the second plane hit," Bowens said.  "We have to remember that this nation is vulnerable."

Robyn Daley's son attends the school.  She was impressed the kids volunteered to do this.

"I stopped dead in my tracks in the car to take a picture," she said.  "It's awesome."

The flags will be removed Thursday afternoon, but what they stood for is something Bowens will never forget.

"This is a reminder at what can happen when we're not paying attention, when we're not aware what's going on and how easily this nation can be attacked."