501st CSW remembers 9/11

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Brian Maguire
  • 501st CSW Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  The 501st Combat Support Wing and their mission partners hosted several events to memorialize the 10th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Several common themes woven through each ceremony included the commemoration of the lives lost on 9/11 and afterwards, the effect of terrorist attacks in the host nations of the 501st CSW, and the resiliency of the global community in the 10 years since the attacks.

"Since that day, the entire free and democratic world has shown a resiliency and perseverance that is unchallenged throughout history," said Col. Brian Kelly, 501st Combat Support Wing commander at a ceremony at Royal Air Force Alconbury. "In the face of terrorism, people throughout the world have refused to yield and have refused to compromise the freedoms we all hold so dear."

The ceremonies were planned by different individuals at each installation, with each focusing on a different aspect of 9/11. The ceremony at Royal Air Force Molesworth, Sept. 9, focused on the global nature of the attacks, as members of four branches of the American military participated in the ceremony, along with representatives from NATO's Intelligence Fusion Centre.

"A new collaboration and fusion has evolved that has greatly enhanced the ability of commanders on the ground to conduct the focused counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations necessary to set the conditions for stability, development and peace to flourish," said Squadron Leader Andy Thayne, Royal Air Force commander for RAF Alconbury, RAF Molesworth and Royal Air Force Upwood. "Allied to resilience from the wider international community, this has contributed significantly to the reduction in the capabilities of terrorist factions everywhere."

The 422nd and 421st Air Base Groups used their ceremonies to recognize and honor the men, women and children who were killed in the 9/11 attacks. Both groups held a memorial service in their chapels, while the 422nd Air Base Group also held a Patriot Day retreat ceremony Sept. 9.

During the retreat ceremony, four tributes were read, highlighting the lives of a policeman, firefighter, medical technician and a civilian lost at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The tributes highlighted how these heroes ran into the fire before the buildings collapsed.

"Out of the adversity sprang numerous acts of gallantry and compassion and the resolve to strive for a world free of tyranny and oppression that we continue to share today," said Thayne.

The ceremony hosted by the 426th Air Base Squadron at Stavanger, Norway, included approximately 80 NATO military and civilian members assigned to the NATO Joint Warfare Centre, including the French commander, Norwegian military adviser to the commander, and American chief of staff. The ceremony encompassed remembrance for victims of extremist attacks in the 10 years following 9/11, concluding with the recent attacks in Norway.

"With the senseless attacks that occurred in Oslo and Utevoy, we continue to be reminded that each of these tragic events affect mothers and fathers, families, friends and nations," said Maj. Peter Olsen, 426th ABS commander. "Across Europe, countries have responded collectively over the last 10 years to reduce threats, working across borders to support the common good."

A common aspect of any remembrance of 9/11 includes reminisces by people about where they were when they learned of the attacks. Speaking at RAF Alconbury on Sept. 11, Kelly described the changed reality following the attacks while stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.

"As the Federal Aviation Administration began to clear the skies, our wing received orders to prepare several of our tanker aircraft, that were to take up refueling tracks over the western United States in support of combat air patrols that were going to be flown over all major cities - in our case San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles and others," he said.

While the United States engaged to defend itself from further attacks, signs of resilience were occurring spontaneously across the country. While many spoke of how the world changed on 9/11, the signs of encouragement served as a beacon in this time of upheaval.

"I remember making that same quiet and lonely drive to base in the early morning of the 12th, just as I had done the day before - only this time, there was a profound difference," Kelly said. "As I drove, I passed American flags hanging from the overpasses, home-made signs providing prayers for those lost, groups of people lined up outside the base holding flags and showing signs of solidarity, and I saw my first signs of incredible resiliency -- resiliency that was being repeated throughout the world, and I remember amidst all the uncertainty, a feeling of knowing things were going to be different, but they were going to be ok."