Italian community: 'So we will never forget'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 31st Fighter Wing public affairs
SPINEA, Italy --  Nearly 300 U.S. and Italian citizens came together Sept. 21 in the city of Spinea to honor those who died during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, with the naming of a new road next to the Spinea train station, "Via 11 settembre 2001 (per non dimenticare mai)." The translation: "So we will never forget." 

As the ceremony began in sub-60 degree temps, the crowd spanning three generations huddled close together as members of the 31st Fighter Wing honor guard posted the U.S. and Italian colors. A stoic formation of U.S. and Italian firefighters stood near the flag poles as the U.S. and Italian national anthems were played and the flags were raised to their positions of honor. 

Claudio Tessari, the mayor of Spinea, Mrs. Megan Jones, a consul from the U.S. consulate agency in Venice, Giovanni De Stavola, the deputy chief of Venice Police and Colonel David Slade, 31st Mission Support Group commander, each spoke to those in attendance about the importance of the ceremony and remembering those who died, the naming of the street in their honor, and the common bond citizens have around the globe in preventing such attacks from happening again. 

"I was in 7th Grade when 9/11 happened," said Airman 1st Class Daquain Wiltshire, a firefighter assigned to the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron who took part in the ceremony. "I'm from Brooklyn, N.Y., and I thought this ceremony was pretty cool. It was great to have Italians support our country in this way." 

Each of the lives lost on September 11th had meaning and an expectation of a future. Seven years have passed since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 rocked the U.S. and international community with the deaths of nearly 3,000 people from more than 90 countries. 

Each year, more and more communities like Spinea continue to rise up around the globe to honor the victims who died and their families left behind. 

The ceremony originally scheduled for Sept. 13 was postponed due to severe weather.