Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Osvaldo Equite | Special Operations Command South service members, civilians, family members, and...... read more read more
Subscribe
HOMESTEAD, Fla., (Sept. 29, 2017) – Special Operations Command South intended to complete its annual tradition this year just as it had more than a decade before – by running 140-miles from the nation’s Southernmost Point Buoy attraction in Key West to its headquarters in Homestead, where a small ceremony would mark the occasion.
Instead, the command and about seven million people evacuated their homes after officials and weather forecasts assured that record-setting Hurricane Irma would decimate South Florida – ending SOCSOUTH’s plan to carry on the annual remembrance run.
Rather than let Irma break an 11-year tradition, SOCSOUTH changed its annual tradition Friday by organizing a 3.2 mile commemorative run here to continue honoring those lost since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.
“We were supposed to do this around 9/11, but Irma happened,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ronell Chatman, an information technology specialists with SOCSOUTH. “Still, to show our dedication and to show people that those we lost are never forgotten, we still made it happen.”
“Of course it‘s more momentous when we are able to run from Key West,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Gene Hansen, a combat medic with SOCSOUTH and this year’s organizer. “But it’s very important that we did this, [that] we remembered, and that we didn’t skip a year – and we kept it going.”
Every year since 2006 SOCSOUTH has honored the fallen by challenging the living to run in memory of the fallen victims of 9/11 and the warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in the years that followed.
This year marks SOCSOUTH’s 12th iteration of the event where more than 60 service members, civilians, friends, and family members participated in the event. Members with the Air Force’s 70th Aerial Port Squadron also participated, while members of the 482nd Fighter Wing stationed at Homestead, Air Reserve Base, facilitated the safe conduct of the run.
“The weather is even cooperating,” said Hansen, in contrast to two weeks ago when high winds and heavy rain would have made it unbearable to run. “Its keeping people nice and cool and happy, but I think people were going to run rain or shine.”
Like so many events before, participants gathered at the end of the run for a short ceremony where they paused to reflect on the events of 9/11, pledged never to forget those lost, and reaffirm the unwavering and everlasting strength that unified our nation in its darkest hour.
“At this very minute our nation was hurt,” said U.S. Army Capt. Jaffet Duquela, SOCSOUTH’s chaplain, as participants took a moment of silence at 8:46 am, the exact time the first plane struck World Trade Center’s North Tower. “Our nation was bleeding because our brothers and sisters got killed.”
“As we recall the heartbreaking stories,” he said. “We remember those who survived yesterday, today, and forever.”
Similarly think of those that have died since then, said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Collin Green, SOCSOUTH commander.
“Today is an emotional day for me,” said Green. “I lost a guy 11 years ago today in Iraq. Mike Monsoor – read about him – a young guy [that] joined after 9/11. He had [earned] a silver star in May of 2006, and then after a simple act – on a rooftop in Ramadi – he jumped on a grenade and saved two of his brothers.”
“I think of him everyday,” said Green. “And I try to earn my job everyday, so think of those people we left behind since 9/11.”
“[That is why] we want to continue to do this every year,” said Hansen, who has run in the event the past three years. “It’s been all these years since we started and I don’t think anything will stop it,” he said of SOCSOUTH’s dedication to keep honoring the fallen year after year.
“And I don’t think anyone wants it to stop anytime soon either,” said Hansen.
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2017 19:42 |
| Story ID: | 250303 |
| Location: | HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 225 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, SOCSOUTH’s annual tradition endures Irma, by SFC Osvaldo Equite, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
