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SALAH AD DIN - You remember where you were Sept. 11, 2001, but will you remember where you were for the 10th anniversary of that date?
Members of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, will have the opportunity to participate in a 24-hour flag run/walk vigil combined with a remembrance ceremony on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
The effort to commemorate this occasion was initiated by Tech. Sgt. Elroy Williams, who has a personal connection to 9/11.
“My parents migrated from Jamaica and New York was the first place my brothers and I came to and we were in awe,” said Williams, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Protocol, who is deployed from Joint base Langley-Eustis, Va. “When the event happened, I thought of all the memories like when I took my beautiful wife, Nicole, to downtown Manhattan and proposed to her on the top of the Empire State Building and how we both grew up in New York.”
“Also, I had friends who worked for the New York Police and Fire Department; some didn’t come home that day,” the Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, native continued.
Other members of the event committee also have personal recollections of that day.
“I’m from New York, so I remember 9/11 like yesterday, I responded to the towers, so New York City is embedded in me,” said Master Sgt. George Pardee, 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Maintenance flight, who is deployed from Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, N.Y.
“I remember when it happened, a friend called me and told me to look at the TV,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Destria Gladney, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Company, deployed from Fort Benjamin Harrison Reserve Component compound, Indianapolis, Ind. “My heart stood still, I was in the Army Reserve and I knew we would be called out to start a mission and it hasn’t gone away since.”
The 9/11 event is not like other events of its kind.
“This event is different, most places are doing big, mass runs on the road, but we had to adapt to a different situation, but the show still goes on,” said Tech. Sgt. Jason Stroude, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Support Squadron, who is deployed from Lackland AFB, Texas. “No matter what part of the world you are in, people will be remembering that day.”
Stroude considers Langley AFB, Va., his hometown.
Currently, gatherings of 13 or more people are not permitted outdoors at JBB.
“We wanted to create a special way to commemorate our fallen comrades and their sacrifices, despite the challenges of being deployed,” said Master Sgt. Andrew Toloza, 332nd AEW Protocol, who is deployed from Royal Air Force Alconbury, United Kingdom.
“We spent a lot of time planning and I don’t think we’ve missed a beat,” continued the Torrance, Calif., native.
Ultimately, it’s not how the day is celebrated that is important, but it is the reason why.
“We paid a high price that day,” said Gladney, who is a native of St. Louis, Mo. “We’re still paying that price, not just those who were lost on 9/11, but those who have lost their lives since then and are still sacrificing.”
“We have to remember why we went to war and protect our country,” added Tech. Sgt. Melanie Deumeland, 332nd AEW Protocol, who is deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. “We don’t just remember service members, but all the individuals that gave their lives, like those who took down Flight 93 and at the Pentagon. On that day we were all Soldiers at heart and we all came together for that moment.”
Deumeland is originally from Jacksonville, Fla.
“It’s mostly because of that day that people still support us here today,” added Pardee, who is originally from Central Square, N.Y.
Not only is the 10th anniversary of 9/11 historical, but it occurs during a historical time for JBB as the base prepares to be transitioned over to the Iraqi air force by the end of this year.
“It’s important for those of us who are deployed to give something back to the people at home who have been supporting us and to the families who lost their loved ones so they know we are still thinking about them,” said Tech. Sgt. Mary Gogo, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group, who is deployed from Sheppard AFB, Texas.
Gogo is originally from Accra, Ghana.
“We also are hoping to extend to younger people so they understand what they’re fighting for,” added Pardee.
“This is a small sacrifice, that everyone can be a part of, to honor America’s fallen,” said Williams.
| Date Taken: | 08.31.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.31.2011 06:50 |
| Story ID: | 76212 |
| Location: | SALAH AD DIN, IQ |
| Web Views: | 156 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, JBB honors 10th anniversary of 9/11, by Capt. Amber Kelly-Herard, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
