OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea — Members of Team Osan commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks through a five-mile ruck march, memorial ceremony and 110-floor stair climb at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 11, 2026.
The attacks claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people and left a lasting impact on the United States, its military and generations of Americans who have grown up in the years since. The coordinated attacks remain one of the deadliest days in American history.
“Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives that day,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Ryan Ley, 51st Fighter Wing commander. “But when we remember Sept. 11, we should remember more than the numbers. We remember the people.”
At Osan Air Base, remembrance took place through a series of events designed to honor those who died and reflect on the sacrifices made that day. The base hosted a five-mile ruck march, a memorial ceremony and a 110-floor stair climb, bringing together members of the military community to remember the events and sacrifices of 9/11.
“For many of us, September 11 became part of our personal story,” Ley said. “It shaped the wars we fought, the missions we flew, the friends we lost and the oath we took to defend this nation.”
The five-mile ruck march brought members of Team Osan together to remember the lives lost. The event honored firefighter Stephen Siller, who strapped on 60 pounds of gear and ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to reach the World Trade Center, where he lost his life while attempting to save others.
For Mr. Sangjoon Jin, Space Forces Korea security cooperation analyst, the events provided an opportunity to remember a moment in history that influenced why many Americans chose to serve.
“A lot of us in our late 30s and 40s really remember that event, and some of us joined because of what happened there,” Jin said. “It was a time when all of America was brought together for a single mission. Hopefully, events like this will remind us of that unity.”
The memorial ceremony gave the community another opportunity to pause and reflect on the attacks while honoring the firefighters, law enforcement officers and medical personnel who answered the call that morning.
During the ceremony, participants observed a moment of silence and heard a ceremonial bell rung in honor of fallen firefighters. The ringing of the bell represents a firefighter's final call and serves as a tribute to those who gave their lives in the line of duty.
“We are standing on the Korean Peninsula, thousands of miles from where those attacks occurred, but we are not removed from their legacy,” Ley said. “We serve in a place where deterrence matters every single day.”
The day's events concluded with a 110-floor stair climb honoring the first responders who climbed the World Trade Center towers in an effort to save those trapped inside. The climb represented the 110 stories of the towers and served as a physical tribute to the firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency personnel who responded that morning.
For Staff Sgt. Jacob Jenkins, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron fire department station chief, participating in the climb was an opportunity to honor fellow first responders who acted without hesitation.
“I’m here to honor the first responders who lost their lives responding to the Twin Towers,” Jenkins said. “They just knew it was on fire, and they jumped into action because they wanted to save lives. I’m just here to honor them.”
Climbing 110 floors also represented the physical challenge those first responders faced as they continued toward danger while others were trying to get out.
“It just shows the amount of effort they went through to save others,” said Airman Elijah Stinson, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter. “It means a lot to me to be able to do just a fraction of what they did that day.”
As participants climbed floor after floor, the physical challenge served as a reminder of the courage and selflessness shown by the first responders who continued upward to help others.
“Twenty-five years have passed, but our promise remains the same,” Ley said. “We will remember, we will serve, we will stand ready and we will never forget.”
Through the miles marched, moments of reflection and floors climbed, Team Osan honored those who lost their lives and the first responders who sacrificed everything to save others. Twenty-five years later, their service and sacrifice continue to be remembered.