GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY (Sept. 11, 2015) -- Col. Joseph King talks about where he was, how he felt and how he and others around him reacted to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, during the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony held Sept. 11 here at the Garmisch Community Chapel on Sheridan Kaserne.
"For me, 9-11 hurt, and the events that day really did affect the path of my life, my career and really my whole outlook in the years since," said King, director of the Plans and Strategy Division for the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies, who was the guest speaker at the remembrance ceremony.
The September 11 attacks were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Four passenger airliners were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists to be flown into buildings. The attacks claimed the lives of 2,977 people.
"I saw hundreds of flowers and candles and signs - 'we are with you' and 'God bless you' -- outside the fence of the U.S. military housing area," said King, who was an arms control inspector stationed at Rhein-Main, Germany in 2001. "I was deeply moved by the spontaneous compassion of the German people.
"We take time today to remember the 2,977 people who were killed on Sept. 11, 2001 - 2,977 lives of great promise, cut short in a cruel and savage instant…2,977 mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, cousins, wives, husbands, and friends, King said.
The ceremony also showcased a moment of silence, video tribute and reception.
In closing, King said, "Each one of us became someone different on that day. So I encourage you today to share your story with someone and to listen to theirs."
The mission of the Marshall Center, as a vital instrument of German-American cooperation, is to create a more stable security environment by advancing democratic institutions and relationships; promoting active, peaceful, whole-of-government approaches to address transnational and regional security challenges; and creating and enhancing enduring partnerships worldwide.
Social Sharing