TEMPE, Ariz. – It has been 25 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and for several days Tempe Beach Park transformed into a memorial honoring those killed. From Sept. 10-13, day and night, crowds gathered amidst the sprawling field of stars and stripes to remember what was lost that day.
In attendance were politicians, law enforcement officers, first responders, veterans, survivors, and various guest speakers.
Yet it was a small gathering of young men and women who marched before the crowd that made the event feel different. Here, these future Soldiers raised their right hands and swore an oath of enlistment to defend the United States.
Capt. Simon Lee, executive officer of the Tempe Recruiting Company, Phoenix Recruiting Battalion, said his knowledge of 9/11 came from history books and the experiences imparted by those who lived through it.
“September 11th is something that obviously is ingrained into me because that is something I grew up my whole life with,” Lee said.
As an officer in charge of the future Soldiers, Lee said that he wanted the memorial to bring meaning to the swearing-in ceremony.
“It's not just them signing a piece of paper, but an actual commitment to a life of service.”
For other Soldiers present, a lifetime of service was something they were very familiar with.
“September 11th, that's why I joined the Army,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Sean Stoddard of the 4th Battalion, 361st Infantry Regiment.
An Army Reserve Soldier who deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, Stoddard also served for 15 years in the Mesa Police Department. It was this confluence of military and civilian service that Stoddard hoped his unit would bring to the memorial.
“I love to see our battalion getting together, unified with the community, one team, one fight,” Stoddard explained. “We're celebrating the Soldiers that are here, the firefighters, first responders, law enforcement.”
Stoddard recalled how he nearly lost his life while on duty as a police officer, when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle – leaving him with a traumatic brain injury, amnesia, and temporary blindness. During his recovery, he had to rediscover many aspects of his life all over again.
“I had to relearn 9/11,” he said.
Once on his feet again, Stoddard went back to doing what mattered to him: selfless service.
“We are served by the previous generations,” said Stoddard. “We are currently served. We will be served in the future, and there's blessing and joy in service.”
Many at the memorial did not wear a uniform while serving others. For Stella and John Herold, volunteer event directors for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, service has become an integral part of their lives. Responsible for overseeing the 9/11 memorial event in Tempe as well as a 5K run, the couple have a strong personal connection with what happened on that fateful day.
“I lost my older brother, Gary, in the South Tower,” said John.
Gary died while leading his coworkers to the stairwell during the attacks. This year, Kyle Carman, interim fire chief for the Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department, carried Gary’s flag with him during the run.
“We’re here to do something good. This is our country,” explained John. “And this country will never be taken away from us because of that spirit.”
The Healing Field at Tempe Beach Park was set up by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and contains American flags representing all of the fallen. Families and strangers alike walked through the rows of flags to read the names. Stella had a message for those worried about approaching the field.
“Touch those flags, read those names,” she said. “It's breathtaking to see, to stand back and watch all the candles going into the field, all the people, and they're reading names, stories.”
Standing before the vast sight, Lee reflected on its impact.
“When you actually see the representation of those numbers here on the field with family members who have been affected, it's extremely powerful just knowing how deeply rooted this is into our culture.”
By bringing the future Soldiers to this memorial, their service became intertwined with the history of 9/11. Lee said the Soldiers who join today come from all different backgrounds but arrive at the same place for the same reason.
“The biggest thing with joining the military is it's obviously something that you don't do just for your own personal benefit,” he explained. “You do it for others.”
| Date Taken: |
09.14.2026 |
| Date Posted: |
09.15.2026 20:40 |
| Story ID: |
574817 |
| Location: |
TEMPE, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: |
19 |
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0 |
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This work, Soldiers and civilians carry the legacy of 9/11, by SSG William Parsons, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
