Multi-National Corps-Iraq hosted a 911 Ceremony at Al-Faw Palace lat Friday, commemorating the attacks on September 11, 2001. Soldiers, diplomats and civilian employees filled the chairs to pray, meditate and listen to General Odierno deliver the keynote speech.
At the front of the stage, the firefighters from Victory Base Complex erected a moving display of a Fire fighter's gear, causing all to remember and give thanks for the heroism and sacrifice of first responders to the tragic event that day.
I've participated in 911 ceremonies before, even helping to lead a prayer service two days after Al-Queda attacked us, while serving ODT (Overseas Duty Training) in Vicenza, Italy. While emotions flowed in Italy, and while other ceremonies touched my heart when conducted back in the states, I was particularly moved surrounded by a sea of green ACUs, sitting in Baghdad, Iraq.
Part of our reason for losing a year of my life in Baghdad, Iraq reaches back to that moment and the case built for going to war and removing Saddam Hussein from power. My current living location is due to that event on 911, and even more importantly, nearly 3,000 families continue to be touched and will be touched forever due to that tragedy. The families of flight attendants, pilots, firefighters, office workers, investors, small business owners, people just living life in the moment and others were changed in the blink of an eye.
And here we are, eight years later, fighting two wars building two nations with need for a clearer objective.
The ceremony was extremely meaningful and touched the hearts of many. A video played to the country western song, "Have We Forgotten?" as part of the program and the Firefighters rang the bell signaling what they do when a life is lost in service to the community and nation.
In speaking with a small group of Soldiers waiting for pictures, I learned that one Soldier was in 7th grade when the Towers went down. Such news illustrates the quick passage of time (8 years).
At the front of the stage, the firefighters from Victory Base Complex erected a moving display of a Fire fighter's gear, causing all to remember and give thanks for the heroism and sacrifice of first responders to the tragic event that day.
I've participated in 911 ceremonies before, even helping to lead a prayer service two days after Al-Queda attacked us, while serving ODT (Overseas Duty Training) in Vicenza, Italy. While emotions flowed in Italy, and while other ceremonies touched my heart when conducted back in the states, I was particularly moved surrounded by a sea of green ACUs, sitting in Baghdad, Iraq.
Part of our reason for losing a year of my life in Baghdad, Iraq reaches back to that moment and the case built for going to war and removing Saddam Hussein from power. My current living location is due to that event on 911, and even more importantly, nearly 3,000 families continue to be touched and will be touched forever due to that tragedy. The families of flight attendants, pilots, firefighters, office workers, investors, small business owners, people just living life in the moment and others were changed in the blink of an eye.
And here we are, eight years later, fighting two wars building two nations with need for a clearer objective.
The ceremony was extremely meaningful and touched the hearts of many. A video played to the country western song, "Have We Forgotten?" as part of the program and the Firefighters rang the bell signaling what they do when a life is lost in service to the community and nation.
In speaking with a small group of Soldiers waiting for pictures, I learned that one Soldier was in 7th grade when the Towers went down. Such news illustrates the quick passage of time (8 years).
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