Moody honors fallen 9/11 victims

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillian Bamman
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  This country suffered 2,945 casualties, including 403 firefighters, paramedics and New York police officers as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

The 23d Wing honored those fallen, either from the Sept. 11 attacks or the operations that followed, with a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, fallen firefighter tribute, 5k run and 23d Fighter Group retreat ceremony Sept. 11, 2014, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

"Today, no ceremonies, special events or amount of tears shed will ever replace the losses," said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Will H. Hardin Jr. "All of us here remember and celebrate the sacrifice and sense of urgency from that tragic day."

On 9/11, 19 terrorists hijacked four passenger jets, two of which were flown into the World Trade Center Twin Towers, one into the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., and one crashed in Stoney Creek Township, Penn.

Hardin recounted his memory of where he was on 9/11, and he asked the audience to do the same.

"Do you remember where you were... I do," he said. "I recalled seeing all the trifling news segments, people running as the buildings were collapsing and burning," he said. "I remember calling my family at Eglin [Air Force Base, Fl.] and the base went into a high alert state."

To honor the firefighters and police officers that gave their lives, members of the 23d Civil Engineer and Security Forces Squadrons wore black tape over their uniform badges.

"We are also here to pay tribute to Moody Air Force Base firefighters who have lost their lives... our fallen brothers," said Staff Sgt. Kegan Sullivan, 23d CES crew chief. "This was not a job, it was their way of life and they loved what they did."

The United States military has continued to fight terrorism in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Sullivan says the fight isn't over.

"That was a tragic day for our country," said Col. Chad Franks, 23d WG commander. "We have had 23d Wing Airmen in combat every day since 9/11.

"We continue to have Flying Tigers in harm's way... killing the bad guys and saving the good guys," Franks added. "Let today's remembrance be your motivation to continue to strive to do the ordinary things better than anyone else. If we do that, we will continue to dominate our enemy on the battlefield."