116th Virginia Army National Guard soldiers remember, reflect and honor 9/11

Photo By Frank O'Brien | Troops and civilians at Forward Operating Base Lagman, Zabul province, Afghanistan, watch the names of those killed on 9/11 scroll across a video monitor while listening to audio clips of first responders during a 10-year anniversary memorial service Sept. 11. Maj. Benjamin Sprouse, chaplain for the Virginia Army National Guard 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, presided.  

QALAT, AFGHANISTAN

09.11.2011

Story by Sgt. Frank O'Brien 

116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Service members and civilians at Forward Operating Base Lagman attended a standing-room only memorial service for the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 at the base chapel, Sept. 11.

Maj. Benjamin J. Sprouse, 38, a Staunton, Va., native, is chaplain for the 116th “Stonewall Brigade,” and presided over the ceremony.

“This ceremony is a time to remember, reflect and honor the memory of that day,” said Sprouse.

After this brief introduction and prayer, the memorial began with the singing of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” followed by a presentation by Sprouse that included excerpts from a speech given by President Bush to a grieving nation, Sept. 14, 2011, a video montage of the names of the dead from the attacks, and audio clips from first responders on 9/11.

Sgt. Lawrence A. Provost, with civil affairs for the 116th, was a first responder in New York City on that day. He spoke to the crowd of his experiences.

“I was a substitute teacher that morning,” said Provost. “I was also in the Army Reserve and after the second tower came down, I asked my unit for permission to go assist with search and rescue. I was able to link up with other like-minded military folk who came down as well to volunteer. I stayed down there for seven days performing the search and rescue.”

“When I first came to the base of the World Trade Center, the smoke and debris was so thick, we didn’t actually see that what had been the World Trade Center was right in front of us. The air was literally raining like it was in the movie ‘The Day After.’ We were breathing in so much smoke and debris…and we came to realize that what we were breathing in were actually people. It was a hard day because you’re in the worst situation, but you also see the best of humanity. The way people banded together was nothing less than a godsend.”

Provost continued, “The best of humanity that I saw that day is similar to what I see in this unit, on this FOB and with the American soldiers and coalition soldiers here and in this nation.”

After Provost, Staff Sgt. Shawn R. Bartz of Virginia Beach, Va., sang “American Soldier” by country singer Toby Keith, accompanied by Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Doane of Roanoke, Va., on guitar. When the voice of Bartz waivered, the crowd joined in, adding its vocal strength to his.

“Although it’s called ‘American Soldier,’ it’s meant to be inclusive of all our service members, all those overseas who serve in harm’s way,” Sprouse said.

Also in attendance was Sgt. 1st Class Janice M. Albuquerque, with civil affairs for the 116th and originally from Huntington, N.Y., who was at Quantico, Va., when the attacks took place and like many people watched the live broadcast of the towers collapse.

“There are lots of feelings as a native New Yorker,” said Albuquerque tearing up. “I’d been up to the top of the World Trade Center many times. In fact, my father was chief engineer of the World Trade Center in the 80’s. It was just such a part of New York.”

Soldiers of the Staunton-based Virginia Army National Guard 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are deployed to Zabul province as a command and control headquarters conducting counterinsurgency operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

• Date Taken: 09.11.2011
• Date Posted: 09.13.2011 10:52
• Story ID: 76949
• Location: QALAT, AF