Flag that Flew Over Ground Zero to be Presented by UB Alumnus Who is Member of NYC Fire Department

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A University at Buffalo alumnus who worked at Ground Zero during the first few weeks after the Sept. 11 tragedy will present an American flag that flew over the site to UB President William R. Greiner during the university's Annual Newman Convocation and Liturgy of the Holy Spirit, to be held at 11:30 a.m. Sunday in St. Joseph University Church, 3629 Main St.

Capt. Stephen Spall, a UB civil engineering graduate and member of the New York City Fire Department's Emergency Rescue Task Force who worked at Ground Zero, will present the flag to Greiner in memory of those members of the UB family who died on Sept. 11.

The 11 UB alumni, fathers of two UB students and two family members of parishioners of the church who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center will be honored at the event.

Also during the convocation, the Newman Award, the highest honor given by the Newman Centers, will be given to Mary Anne Rokitka, assistant dean for biomedical undergraduate education in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and clinical associate professor of physiology in the UB Department of Physiology and Biophysics.

Rokitka will be recognized for her efforts on behalf of UB students and faculty during her many years in the medical school.

Members of the UB community and the general public are invited to attend.