MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – “I remember being at home, watching television and happened to be on the right station at the right time,” said Joe Jackson, one of the original Montford Point Marines and a Birmingham, Ala., native “I worked around explosions when I was serving in the Marine Corps; I’m used to them, so when I saw that plane hit the tower over and over as they replayed the footage it hit me that this wasn’t a hoax.”
Jackson attended a flag-raising ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Sept. 11, in memory of those who lost their lives in both the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and operations afterward to ensure it does not happen again.
The guest of honor for the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Robert E. Schmidle, Jr., deputy commandant of aviation for the Marine Corps, spoke about honoring those who lost their lives not with mourning, but celebrating.
“When we honor the folks who have given their lives, what I suggest is that we celebrate that they ran to the aid of those who needed it,” said Schmidle. “We need to celebrate that uniquely American quality of coming together during a time of need. We, as Marines, live every day of our lives dedicated to something greater than ourselves, like our Corps and nation. To us this is the way we do business, like the police and the fire departments.”
Brig. Gen. Steven Busby, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and an Akron, Ohio, native, who was in Washington, D.C., looks at those who joined the Corps after that somber day and feels a sense of pride.
“For 11 years we have had young men and women know and understand the meaning of selfless service, sacrifice and that freedom isn’t free,” said Busby. “Every time I get the chance to talk to a young Marine or sailor that [thought] is all that comes to mind. The ceremony here was right on target, the 3rd MAW Band was, as usual, superb and the Marines in formation represented those on station exactly as we would want.”
By serving the Marine Corps and his nation every day with dedication and determination, he will be paying homage to those before him and those who lost their lives, explained Busby.
After the attack, a Marine stationed in Fort George G. Meade, Md., got to go to the World Trade Center site.
“The devastation and lives lost brought a lot of emotion to me, but to see that the country and its military coming together to take care of this one problem was very motivating,” said Gunnery Sgt. Francisco Reclosado, the squadron gunnery sergeant for Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 and an El Centro, Calif., native. “This kind of remembrance is definitely beautiful to see. The one thing I like as far as 9/11 is concerned is that the country never forgets that one moment in time.”