Grissom holds 9/11 memorial ceremony

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chris Massey
  • 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

Shoulder to shoulder, Airmen and civilian personnel of the 434th Air Refueling Wing stood in the sun-kissed early morning fog to pay tribute to those who lost their lives 17 years ago.

With her opening remarks, Col. Anne Noel, 434th ARW vice commander, shared her sentiments and thanked everyone for their attendance.

“This day is a day of remembrance,” said Noel.  “A day to remember the victims and their families.  This is a day to never forget that we are Americans and we never give up.  9/11 made us a stronger more resilient country.”

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Alex Jack, 434th ARW chaplain, provided words of reassurance followed by a prayer and moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11.

“On Sept. 11, 2001, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes on the way to Los Angeles and San Francisco after they took off from Washington and Boston.  And our world and our Air Force hasn’t been the same since…,” said Jack. “And so today, with heavy hearts and sober resolve, we remember those who lost their lives and those who gave their lives to save others.  Let us pause for a minute of silence and then I invite you to join me in a word of prayer.”

“I am proud to stand before you and stand with you wearing the uniform of our service and our nation in her defense,” Noel said.  “I am in awe of the young adults who will soon enter into our service and choose to defend this great country from enemies, both foreign and domestic.”

The sound of Taps being played was a somber final tribute to the fallen before base personnel went back quietly to their work areas.

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. The Citizen Airmen from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.