Pepperdine raises 2,977 flags ahead of 25th anniversary of 9/11

By The Malibu Times · Sun Sep 06 2026

Waves of Flags memorial returns to Alumni Park as university prepares for Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony

Nearly 3,000 American and international flags once again fill Pepperdine University’s Alumni Park, creating one of Malibu’s most recognizable and moving annual memorials. On Saturday, Sept. 5, Pepperdine students, student-athletes, alumni, faculty, staff, and members of the university community gathered to place 2,977 flags across the sweeping lawn overlooking Pacific Coast Highway, with each flag representing a life lost in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

This year’s Waves of Flags carries added significance as the nation prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

Members of Pepperdine Beach Volleyball, Pepperdine Women’s Basketball, Pepperdine Baseball and Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball were among those who helped raise the flags Saturday as part of the university-wide volunteer effort.

The memorial stretches across Alumni Park near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road, creating rows of flags visible to thousands of motorists traveling through Malibu.

The display includes American flags honoring the U.S. victims of the attacks as well as national flags representing the foreign countries that lost citizens on Sept. 11. In total, the 2,977 flags represent the victims killed in the attacks.

Waves of Flags began as a student-led effort at Pepperdine in 2008 and has since grown into one of the university’s most enduring traditions. Each September, members of the Pepperdine and greater Malibu communities come together to raise the flags and later return to lower them.

Beyond remembering those killed on Sept. 11, Pepperdine describes the tradition as an opportunity to educate new generations about the events of that day and honor the sacrifices of those who have served the country in the years since.

This year, Pepperdine will commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a special remembrance ceremony on Friday, Sept. 11, at 9 a.m. in Alumni Park.

The ceremony will bring together students, alumni, university leaders and community members to remember those who died, honor the heroes who responded and reflect on the resilience and unity demonstrated in the aftermath of the attacks. Special guests and Pepperdine leadership are expected to lead attendees in prayer and reflection.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early or remain after the ceremony to walk through the Waves of Flags memorial. A Reflection Station will also be available, allowing visitors to write messages of remembrance on cards and attach them to flagpoles throughout the display.

There is no cost to attend the Sept. 11 ceremony, although Pepperdine encourages attendees to register in advance.

The Waves of Flags will remain standing through Friday, Sept. 18, when Pepperdine volunteers will gather from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to lower the flags.

For nearly two decades, the memorial has transformed the prominent Malibu hillside into a place of reflection each September. This year, a quarter-century after the attacks, the thousands of flags will once again serve as individual reminders of the lives behind one of the most consequential days in American history.

Pepperdine Waves of Flags and 25th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony information