Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison | U.S. service members salute as the American and Djiboutian flags are raised on Camp...... read more read more
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CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Petty officers 1st class recently selected to chief petty officer forward deployed to Camp Lemonnier and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, conducted a Remembrance Ceremony here, Sept. 11, 2018, in honor of the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The event was attended by hundreds of service members forward deployed to the East African base. Military personnel from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force as well as coalition military members and base civilian employees participated in the 30-minute ceremony.
The chief selectees led the event and observed the day by honoring those who perished in the attacks as well as recognizing first responders stationed here.
Master of Ceremonies, Builder 1st Class Matthew Gage, opened the event by saying the observance was held to stop, pause and honor those who lost their lives during the Sept.11 attacks.
Gage, a Navy reservist and police officer in his civilian career, said he is honored to be asked to lead the ceremony.
“My heart truly goes out to all the first responders, family and friends of the victims of the 9/11 attacks,” Cage said.
A flag detail made up of the 19 Sailors selected to chief, marched 2,977 paces to the flag pole at the headquarters building on base to represent the number of lives lost in New York City, The Pentagon and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Stories of the events that occurred at each site were read and punctuated with a single bell ring.
Additionally, four American flags meant to symbolize the four flights involved in the attacks were ceremonially retired.
Builder 1st Class Christopher Swinton, a member of the Ensign Retiring Detail said this ceremony is particularly important to him.
“I’m from New York and I was in the city the day of the attacks,” Swinton said. “I saw the planes go into the towers – I’ll never forget that.”
Although it has been 17 years since Sept. 11, 2001, this date always brings back memories of those whose lives were lost.
“It’s an emotional and powerful day in the history of our nation and our Navy,” Command Master Chief Jon H. Morton said. “I’m proud of our chief selects and the great job they did helping us put in perspective what it truly means to serve our country. We were all affected by a single act; somewhere, somehow.”
Camp Lemonnier is one of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, installations that conducts six lines of operations to support air operations, port operations, safety, security, quality of life, and what is called the core: the fuels, water and power that keep the bases operating.
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2018 09:23 |
| Story ID: | 292183 |
| Location: | DJ |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, CLDJ commemorates 9/11, by CPO Joseph Rullo, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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