15 Years later SOCSOUTH Remembers Tragic Events of September 11, 2001

Photo By Brigida Sanchez | The Headquarters Command Team, Captain Angel Reynoso, and First Sergeant Wiley MacCormack, followed on by Master Sergeant Scott Bass, started the first leg of the 140 mile 9-11 Memorial run on September 8, at the iconic Southernmost Point Marker in Key West, Florida. SOCSOUTH is commemorating and honoring the victims of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.  

HOMESTEAD, FL, UNITED STATES

09.09.2016

Story by Capt. Brigida Sanchez 

Special Operations Command South

HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. – Members of Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) supported by families and members of the Homestead community participated in the SOCSOUTH annual 9-11 run to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. Participants began their journey at the iconic Southernmost Point Marker of Key West to cover a distance of 140-miles in the form of a relay run over the course of 20 hours.

Jeffery Kourim, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and team leader for the 112th Signal Detachment, organized the event. “I think that this is a great run that SOCSOUTH puts on to remember the fallen victims. A great deal of planning and a lot of work went into the event, we had to coordinate with the Police along the route, Base Security, plan the course, estimate the distances runners would run, and order t-shirts amongst other things.”

With the Key West afternoon sun high in the sky and the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico on either side, four relay teams began the long and arduous journey towards their final destination at Homestead ARB. Each of the participants completed their portion of the relay with their distinctive stride along the same route and united by a single purpose of commemorating the losses of that fateful day and all those affected by the tragic event.

U.S. Army Sergeant Michael Reyes, who ran the first leg of the relay, passionately expressed; “I feel proud to run in this event because I run as a symbol of gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for so many people, that they will never meet. Like my family and I, who came from the Dominican Republic… this why I run because, I want to show my thanks.”

The 9-11 run which originated in 2006 is an initiative of the members of the unit that brings together military and community leaders in a remembrance of the solemn occasion. The relay teams completed the memorial run with the South Florida sun at its apex, a journey that reflects a strong nation that will never forget as it moves forward in silent strength and determination.

• Date Taken: 09.09.2016
• Date Posted: 09.13.2016 13:22
• Story ID: 209439
• Location: HOMESTEAD, FL, US