GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- While most people can’t remember where they were at any given time in their lives, 16 years later most can remember where they were during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
To help ensure those memories were not forgotten Grissom Airmen, firefighters and civilians joined Americans around the world Sept. 11, to pay their respects to the victims.
Kicking off the ceremony, Col. Larry Shaw, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander, shared his thoughts and thanked participants for joining.
“We remember the images, the sights, the sounds the emotions of 16 years ago, just like it was last week,” said Shaw. “We should also remember the resilience and the pride we took as a nation, standing up, not cowering, and fighting back.
Following Shaw’s message to Airmen, Chap. (Maj.) Alex Jack, 434th ARW chaplain, provided words of encouragement 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.”
Ending a moment of silence was the somber sound of Taps played by Senior Airman Ryan Ware, 49th Aerial Flight apprentice and Honor Guard member, as a final tribute to the fallen before base personnel went back quietly to their work area.
Since 9/11, the 434th ARW, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, and its Airmen have been called on frequently to deploy Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women 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.