Sailors assigned to Pre Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) came together on the mess decks to participate in a 9/11 remembrance ceremony hosted by the Kennedy Fiscal Year 2025 Chief Petty Officer (CPO) selectees Sept. 11, 2025. The ceremony began with the parading of the colors, the national anthem and then opening remarks from Master Chief Operations Specialist Mark Bell.
“Every one of us who lived through it remembers it,” Bell affirmed. He believes that the events of 9/11 not only changed America as a nation and its military, but informed it. “We are reminded that freedom is not guaranteed and must be defended.” The ceremony would continue with a recount of the timeline of events on Sept. 11, 2001 by chief petty officer selectees. For every event enumerated from the timeline, a ceremonial bell was rung.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Alex Brandhorst, a Chief Selectee, disclosed the importance of the September 11 ceremony to his naval career. “One of the reasons I joined was because of 9/11”, he began. “My dad is a first responder, so it was a big deal when it happened.”
Brandhorst appreciated the ceremony, believing it captured all the feelings he felt that day while remembering it. “The 9/11 ceremonies have always been a close thing for me, so I always like to take the time during this time of year to commemorate everyone we lost.”
The event concluded with the ceremonial folding and passing of the flag by the Kennedy FY-2025 CPO selectees, followed by a moment of silence with the Chaplain and final words from Kennedy’s Commanding Officer Capt. Doug Langenberg.
“That morning shook us to the core, but it revealed the strength of who we are as Americans,” Langenberg remarked.
Langenberg explained the importance of remembering 9/11 not just as a service member, but as a JFK Sailor. He affirmed that no matter how distant that day becomes, what unites the Sailors that were serving during that day, the ones that lost their lives that day, and the junior Sailors of today is that they all salute the same flag.
“That flag is flown over battlefields, disaster zones, overseas and where hope is scarce”, Langenberg stated. “And it flies here today over us because of the sacrifices of those before us and because of the sacrifices you’re making today.”
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2025 08:56 |
| Story ID: | 551871 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 13 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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