**SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. —**The Vermont National Guard commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks today, honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed and reflecting on the events that shaped a generation of military service.
Current and former service members, state and community leaders, and guests gathered at the 158th Fighter Wing to remember the victims of the attacks and recognize those who responded that day.
“September 11 changed our nation and shaped the service of an entire generation of Green Mountain Boys,” said Col. Michael Blair, commander of the 158th Fighter Wing. “For 25 years, Vermont Airmen have answered our nation’s call around the world and here at home. Today, we remember those we lost, honor those who answered that day and recognize the generations who have carried that responsibility forward.”
Lt. Gen. (Ret) William H. Etter, the ceremony’s keynote speaker, recalled the Vermont Air National Guard’s response as the events of Sept. 11 unfolded. Vermont Guard members began reporting for duty without waiting to be called, and Airmen were already preparing aircraft when the North American Aerospace Defense Command contacted the Wing about arming its fighters.
“We had the training. We had the experience,” Etter said. “And when our members arrived, we had an incredible wing that excelled at the task.”
Later that afternoon, Vermont was directed to intercept a civilian aircraft that appeared not to be complying with the Federal Aviation Administration’s grounding order.At 1:43 p.m., two Vermont F-16 pilots launched with orders to stop the aircraft if it did not land. It ultimately landed safely.
The ceremony marked the significance of that moment with an F-35A Lightning II commemorative flight planned in conjunction with the1:43 p.m.anniversary of the 2001 launch.
Vermont’s response continued in the months that followed, including sustained air patrols over New York City. Over the next 25 years, Vermont Airmen deployed repeatedly in support of operations around the world, serving across the Middle East, Europe, the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere. During that period, the 158th Fighter Wing transitioned from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the F-35A Lightning II, becoming the first Air National Guard unit to receive the fifth-generation fighter.
For many of the Airmen serving today, however, Sept. 11 is no longer a personal memory.
“Nearly forty percent of our force standing here today was born after September 11th, 2001,” said Maj. Gen. Henry Harder Jr., adjutant general of Vermont. “For many of you, this is not a memory you carry. It is history you have inherited, and a legacy you have chosen to serve.”
The 25th anniversary commemoration event connected those who witnessed and responded to the attacks with a new generation charged with carrying the Vermont National Guard’s mission forward.