Col. Christopher Craige, 39th Air Base Wing commander, speaks to Airmen during the 9/11 Remembrance Retreat Ceremony Sept. 9, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The ceremony honored those who lost their lives in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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Airmen salute as the American flag is lowered and April Dingle, 39th Medical Support Squadron administrative assistant, sings the American national anthem during the 9/11 Remembrance Retreat Ceremony Sept. 9, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The ceremony honored those who lost their lives in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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Members of the 39th Air Base Wing Honor Guard perform a 3-volley rifle salute during the 9/11 Remembrance Retreat Ceremony Sept. 9, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The ceremony honored those who lost their lives in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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Airmen salute as the American flag is folded during the 9/11 Remembrance Retreat Ceremony Sept. 9, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The ceremony honored those who lost their lives in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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Master Sgt. Michael Mujwid, 39th Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, pumps out push-ups during the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Combat Endurance Challenge Sept. 10, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The challenge contained six events including push-ups and sit-ups, sandbag carry, rucksack run, Airman's Manual test questions, litter carry and final sprint to the finish line. The 39th Logistical Readiness Squadron hosts the annual challenge to raise money for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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Airmen from the first sergeants team, crank out sit-ups during the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Combat Endurance Challenge Sept. 10, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The challenge contained six events including push-ups and sit-ups, sandbag carry, rucksack run, Airman's Manual test questions, litter carry and final sprint to the finish line. The 39th Logistical Readiness Squadron hosts the annual challenge to raise money for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Wilson, 39th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant, right, lugs two sand bags during the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Combat Endurance Challenge Sept. 10, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The challenge contained six events including push-ups and sit-ups, sandbag carry, rucksack run, Airman's Manual test questions, litter carry and final sprint to the finish line. The 39th Logistical Readiness Squadron hosts the annual challenge to raise money for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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Left to right, Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Wilson, 39th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant; Master Sgt. Alan Weary, 39th Medical Group first sergeant; and Master Sgt. Michael Mujwid, 39th Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, answer test questions from the Airman's Manual during the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Combat Endurance Challenge Sept. 10, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The challenge contained six events including push-ups and sit-ups, sandbag carry, rucksack run, Airman's Manual test questions, litter carry and final sprint to the finish line. The 39th Logistical Readiness Squadron hosts the annual challenge to raise money for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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Master Sgt. Michael Mujwid, 39th Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, left, and Master Sgt. Aaron Smith, 39th MXS pro-shop superintendent, run during the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Combat Endurance Challenge Sept. 10, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The challenge contained six events including push-ups and sit-ups, sandbag carry, rucksack run, Airman's Manual test questions, litter carry and final sprint to the finish line. The 39th Logistical Readiness Squadron hosts the annual challenge to raise money for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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The first sergeants team hurries down the road while carrying a litter during the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Combat Endurance Challenge Sept. 10, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The challenge contained six events including push-ups and sit-ups, sandbag carry, rucksack run, Airman's Manual test questions, litter carry and final sprint to the finish line. The 39th Logistical Readiness Squadron hosts the annual challenge to raise money for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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The first sergeants team runs together in the final sprint during the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Combat Endurance Challenge Sept. 10, 2011, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The challenge contained six events including push-ups and sit-ups, sandbag carry, rucksack run, Airman's Manual test questions, litter carry and final sprint to the finish line. The 39th Logistical Readiness Squadron hosts the annual challenge to raise money for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)

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Team Incirlik reflects on 9/11

Published Sept. 12, 2011
By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Team Incirlik came together for multiple events Sept. 9-11 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Incirlik's Airmen Committed to Excellence Council, which consists of Airmen in the first four enlisted ranks, coordinated the 9/11 Remembrance five-kilometer run and a retreat ceremony Sept. 9. The 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron coordinated a Combat Endurance Challenge Sept. 10.

"The purpose for this event was to spark remembrance for all of the lives lost and lives given by all of those first responders who served our country that day," said Airman 1st Class Andrea Adler, 39th LRS support-agreement administrator and A.C.E. vice president. "During the run, an Airman came up to me and told me that he wanted to quit after the first mile; but he kept pushing himself because all he could think about was how much harder it must have been for the Americans in the Twin Towers, Pentagon or Pennsylvania 10 years ago - not only them, but the first responders who pushed themselves to go inside those burning buildings knowing they might not come out alive.

"Hearing that really made me feel like we served a purpose," she said.

More than 65 Airmen stood in formation at the end of the duty day to salute the U.S. flag as it was lowered during a special retreat ceremony held in honor of 9/11.

"A.C.E. has been organizing this retreat ceremony for at least two years now, and it's a great way to (provide) a few moments of remembrance and reflection on an event that literally defined our generation, as the John F. Kennedy assassination defined our parents'," said Senior Airman Sara Warner, 39th Comptroller Squadron and A.C.E. president. "I'm just proud that I was able to work on a project as important as this -- especially since it was the 10th anniversary."

The Combat Endurance Challenge, an annual fundraiser event hosted by the 39th LRS, is a competition with six events. Teams compete against each other in events that include a sit-up and push-up contest, sandbag carry, litter carry, ruck-sack carry, and an Airman's Manual questionnaire.

"The purpose of the event was to help hone our fitness and combat skills to stay fit to fight while raising money for the (National September 11 Memorial and Museum)," said Tech. Sgt. Erik Evans, 39th LRS and CEC coordinator.

As a nation gathered to remember Sept. 11, Team Incirlik also honored those who lost their lives that day and in the years that followed, as well as all victims of terrorism.

Many Airmen are currently deployed around the world supporting joint and coalition forces. These Airmen stand alongside fellow service members in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.