Alumnus Ryan Sawtelle ('09), Creator of Pepperdine’s Waves of Flags, Continues to Give Back to the Veteran Community
In August 2008 reinforced metal was sprouting up all over Pepperdine University’s Alumni Park. Nearly 3,000 rebar poles were being driven straight into the ground because of one idea called “Waves of Flags.”
One of the main initiators behind this project was a student named Ryan Sawtelle (‘09). Working alongside his fellow students in the College Republicans club, the Student Activities Office, and University administration, the Seaver College economics major worked tirelessly to bring about an ambitious display. The mission was to provide the public with a new and meaningful way to begin healing from the scars left by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which had deeply affected the country just seven years prior. To accomplish this feat, Sawtelle and his collaborators set out to raise one flag on Pepperdine’s Malibu campus for each individual who was killed that day.
Inspired by similar memorials across the nation, Sawtelle helped spearhead a complex effort to accomplish this goal. His persistence to see the memorial through ultimately resulted in Pepperdine’s annual Waves of Flags display, a powerful monument comprising 2,977 flags that fly alongside California’s scenic Pacific Coast Highway.
“There’s a rebellious spirit that fuels me,” says Sawtelle. “Especially when I know what I’m doing is right.”
By following this internal moral directive, Sawtelle played a critical role in the great task of bringing Waves of Flags to the Malibu campus and, as an unexpected result, discovered a deep passion for supporting the veteran community—a vocation he now lives out with his nonprofit organization, White Heart, and its annual Ride to the Flags event.
Ride to the Flags
Sawtelle did not stop after installing 2,977 flags on the Alumni Park hillside. Instead he immediately launched into another idea—a community motorcycle ride to observe the memorial display he had just erected and raise money to support wounded veterans.
Participants riding motorcycles at Ride to the Flags event
“I started meeting veterans who weren't getting the help that they needed,” he explains. “ My eyes were opened to the fact that these service members aren't receiving enough support through the Veterans Affairs or through the government, so we need to help them.”
Ride to the Flags was born that same year in 2008. The event’s inaugural pilgrimage featured approximately 250 motorcyclists from different clubs that the Seaver student cold-called in his free time. The group gathered at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley and drove to Malibu together as one cohesive unit.
The purpose of this two-wheeled jaunt was less about spectacle and more about charity, as Sawtelle sought to raise money for the Intrepid Heroes Fund—a nonprofit that builds treatment centers for United States veterans. This humanitarian initiative has fueled the Ride to the Flags event ever since its inception and played a key role in growing the motorcade of participants.
Throughout its now 16-year run, Sawtelle’s spur-of-the-moment idea has grown. Now, as many as 1,000 motorcyclists parade together toward the memorial. Boy Scouts form a flag line to salute the riders. Fire engines escort them along the route. And celebrities have even gotten involved, as actor Rob Lowe has begun taking part in the festivities.
This year, on September 8, 2024, more than 400 motorcycles gathered at Point Mugu Naval Base for a 9/11 remembrance ceremony. From there, they traveled down the Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu Bluffs Park, where a celebration complete with food trucks, live music, and raffles ensued.
All of these festivities were centered around advocating on behalf of and supporting veterans of the United States military. The funds that were generated from this year's Ride to the Flags will go toward creating a retreat center where veterans can come together and take strides toward improved mental health. This is the objective of Sawtelle’s nonprofit, White Heart.
White Heart
The domino effect of Sawtelle’s Waves of Flags idea eventually led him to create White Heart, a nonprofit concerned with the plight of military veterans and first responders. After forming the organization in 2011, Sawtelle began raising money to provide those wounded in battle with life-saving or altering surgeries; however, this strategy has since shifted.
Military members saluting at Ride to the Flags event
“The mental health side of things is astonishing,” says Sawtelle. “Nothing really matters if you're not mentally well. So White Heart switched its philosophy from raising funds for single, individual veterans toward raising funds for our mental health eco-therapy program. That’s where we have seen a lot of great impact and good support from the public.”
White Heart offers a range of retreats where large groups of veterans and first responders can gather in community and engage in the healing process together. These retreats immerse participants in outdoor recreational activities such as whitewater rafting, kayaking, and rock climbing. The camaraderie and team spirit fostered during these excursions offer those who were in the line of duty valuable outlets for processing their experiences. Whether through forging close bonds with trusted friends or overcoming physical challenges, White Heart provides those who have sacrificed for the country with meaningful opportunities for healing.
By focusing on the psychosocial elements of wellness, Sawtelle’s nonprofit has been able to make a difference in the lives of countless individuals. In order to create such an impact, the Seaver College alumnus has had to rely on his rebellious spirit, innovative ideas, and a community of support.
As an economics major at Pepperdine University, Sawtelle began to take classes in nonprofit management from Regan Schaffer, who now serves as the dean of the Business Administration Division. Schaffer provided Sawtelle with wise counsel as a professor and now as a post-grad mentor.
“Dr. Schaffer is one of the most impactful people at Pepperdine,” says Sawtelle. “To this day, if I have a nonprofit question, I text Regan and get her take on the situation.”
This collaborative relationship is not a one way street, however. Schaffer reported how Sawtelle has gone on to help current Seaver College students, granting them internships and real-world experiences in the nonprofit sector while they’re still enrolled in school. More than that, she is excited and proud to walk with a student through their vocational journey.
“As a student, Ryan had his own vision for what he wanted to do,” says Schaffer. “He wanted to work with veterans. Many students come to us with ideas like that, but to actually execute your vision is something else. Ryan did it, and he did it in class. I’m honored that he has let me walk every step of the journey with him.”
What started as an idea in a college classroom has now blossomed into an organization with headquarters in two different states—an organization concerned with the plight of others and centered around service.
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“I didn't expect my life to go down this road,” says Sawtelle. “It all started with the flags.”
Service members attaching an American flag to fire truck ladders
Through his advocacy to install 2,977 flags to fly on Alumni Park, Sawtelle hoped to inspire renewed awareness of 9/11 across the west coast. In Malibu, that vision endures 16 years later, as Waves of Flags remains a powerful and respected tradition at Pepperdine University. This year, on September 7, 2024, the flags were installed by dozens of community volunteers committed to honoring those who lost their lives to terrorism.
Beyond that, though, the flags Sawtelle helped plant day after day became the foundation for his dedication to veteran-oriented aid. Since that initial display, the Seaver College alumnus has raised millions of dollars for wounded service members, launched initiatives to offer hope, and channeled his talent, ingenuity, and education into purposeful leadership.
“It's odd to think about how much my life revolves around the Wave of Flags,” Sawtelle says. “I didn’t do it for notoriety. I did it for charity. I’m glad that Pepperdine is now committed to the tradition of creating a living memorial for those who lost their lives in 9/11.”