JRTC, Fort Polk remembers events of 9-11

FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, UNITED STATES

09.11.2020

Courtesy Story

Fort Johnson Public Affairs Office

FORT POLK, La. — The COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Laura’s aftermath might have put a damper on planned proceedings for a ceremony honoring the 19th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., but it didn’t stop the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk from paying homage to those who unselfishly sacrificed themselves for others.
Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, commander, JRTC and Fort Polk, was keynote speaker at a 9 a.m. ceremony in the Fort Polk Main Fire Station Sept. 11 that was recorded and later posted on the JRTC and Fort Polk Facebook page. He said some might wonder why the event was held at the fire station and not Memorial Park.
“This is our JRTC and Fort Polk tribute to our first responders — firefighters, police officers and EMTs — that were the first to arrive at the World Trade Center to assist their fellow Americans following the attack,” Frank said.
Forging the Warrior Spirit
Frank said JRTC and Fort Polk’s motto — Forging the Warrior Spirit — was a fitting way to describe the heroic actions following the attack 19 years ago on the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington and a farm field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In all, 2,977 people were killed in the attacks.
Warrior Ethos
When police, firefighters and paramedics selflessly entered the Twin Towers they demonstrated Warrior Ethos, Frank said.
“They ran into danger to protect fellow American citizens and ensure no one was left behind,” he said. “Through the brave act of 40 passengers on Flight 93, an attack on the U.S. Capitol was averted by everyday citizens who stood up for our nation. Todd Beamer’s words ‘Let’s roll,’ became a rallying cry for hundreds of thousands of Soldiers, who have since deployed during the last 19 years of combat.”
First responders
Frank thanked Fort Polk and Central Louisiana first responders and their efforts to keep the installation’s Soldiers and Families safe.
“These police officers and firefighters place themselves in danger to provide a safe environment for Fort Polk Soldiers,” he said. “We truly appreciate sacrifices.”
Memorial Park
While JRTC and Fort Polk has connections to past military conflicts, the granite monument in Memorial Park symbolizes America’s longest period of conflict, Frank said.
“From the fall of 2001 to operations currently conducted in theater today, our Army has been decisively engaged in operations against the enemies of the United States for the last 19 years — 15 years longer than World War II,” Frank said. “Our monument reflects the World Trade Center and Pentagon and is inscribed with the names of 96 fallen Fort Polk Soldiers.”
Frank recalled the image of President George Bush standing on a debris pile at Ground Zero beside a New York City firefighter, and his promise that those who knocked the buildings down, “will hear all of us soon.”
“Our heroic first responders would pass this fight to those of us in camouflage as our nation would defeat terrorists in multiple regions around the globe,” he said.
Remembering fallen heroes
Frank then asked those who live on Fort Polk to listen to Taps at 9 p.m. and remember the more than 5,000 fallen American service members who have died on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. Following his remarks, Frank was joined by JRTC and Fort Polk Command Sgt. Maj. Michael C. Henry and Sgt. 1st Class Adriana S. Fox, JRTC Operations Group, in placing a wreath in memory of those who died in the attacks.

• Date Taken: 09.11.2020
• Date Posted: 09.29.2020 07:46
• Story ID: 379186
• Location: FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US