Two steel beams from the World Trade Center at the Dole Institute of Politics are expected to be a gathering point Thursday as Lawrence commemorates the two-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“We thought it was a day to give people an opportunity to come and pause and reflect,” said Richard Norton Smith, the institute’s director. “With the columns here, we’d be remiss if we didn’t do something.”

The 10-foot-long beams are near the institute’s entrance, at the base of the world’s largest stained-glass American flag.

Visitors at the Dole Institute will be asked to sign a commemoration book that will be presented by former Sen. Bob Dole to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The building will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday.

The time of reflection will give way Thursday afternoon to a naturalization ceremony, where 150 people will take oaths as U.S. citizens. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. and is open only to those participating and their invited guests.

Those taking the citizenship oath represent 59 countries. Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway and U.S. District Court Judge John W. Lungstrum, a KU graduate, will preside over the ceremony, and Deanell Tacha, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Judicial Circuit, will speak.

This is believed to be the first time KU has played host to a naturalization ceremony.

“This is an ideal reflection of what I hope (the Dole Institute) can be and what it can mean,” Smith said. “We wanted to do something that was dignified and understated.”

T.R. Jarrett, of Independence, Mo., left, and Logan Wilkin, of Kearney, Mo., take a break from working at the Dole Institute of Politics to look at the display of beams from the World Trade Center. The beams are part of a Sept. 11, 2001, memorial at the institute. Jarrett and Wilkin, who work for MTS Construction of Kansas City, Mo., were at the institute Monday to apply an anti-graffiti coating to the building.

Few organizations in Lawrence indicated Monday that events were scheduled to publicly commemorate the anniversary.

Last year, 1,500 people gathered for a candlelight vigil at KU’s Campanile, and several hundred gathered for an event at Haskell Stadium.

Events scheduled Thursday are more reflective and less public. Danforth Chapel at KU will be open for prayer and reflection from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Baker University’s usual morning chapel service will focus on the attacks.

Though there are fewer events this year, Smith said he didn’t think that meant people were forgetting about the attacks.

¢Dole Institute¢The September 11 Attack: archived stories, photos and video

“I think the emotions are still strong and close to the surface,” he said. “I think the commemoration of the event evolves with time. I think it’s more personal, more reflective and less ceremonial. That doesn’t mean the feelings have faded.”