Picatinny Arsenal holds ceremony to commemorate 9/11 attacks

By Picatinny Arsenal Public AffairsSeptember 11, 2015

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Brig. Gen. Patrick W. Burden, Senior Commander at Picatinny Arsenal, lays a wreath at a memorial marker dedicated to service members from New Jersey who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Global War on Terror. The wreath was placed at 9:37 a.m., ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. (Sept. 11, 2015) -- Picatinny community members gathered on this anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks for a solemn wreath ceremony near the Visitor Center to commemorate the attacks and the sacrifices made by American service members in the 14 years that have followed.

The wreath was placed by Picatinny Arsenal Senior Commander, Brig. Gen. Patrick W. Burden, and Garrison Commander, Lt. Col. Ingrid Parker, at a memorial marker dedicated to service members from New Jersey who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Global War on Terror.

The wreath was placed at 9:37 a.m., the time when United Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Three red oak memorial trees for New Jersey Sailors, Cmdr. Robert E. Dolan, Cmdr. Patrick Dunn and Aviation Warfare Systems Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph J. Pycior, Jr., who died in the Pentagon attack, are several feet from the GWOT Memorial Marker.

Also several feet away is a red oak tree memorial for Sgt. Steven D. Checo, the first New Jersey Soldier to die in Afghanistan. Sgt. Checo died on Dec. 21, 2002 as a result of gunshot wounds received during a firefight near Shkin, Afghanistan.

Thousands of Americans and people from other nations died as a result of two aircraft attacks that caused the collapse of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York City, the aircraft attack on the Pentagon and the downing of United Airlines Flight 93 into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 11, 2001.

Thousands of members of the uniformed services also gave the ultimate sacrifice while defending our nation during military actions around the world in the years after the Sept. 11 attacks.

At locations throughout Picatinny are 170 additional red oak tree memorials that have been planted and dedicated for New Jersey service members who have died in overseas operations since Sept. 11, 2001.

After the wreath was placed, the attendees listened to the playing of "Taps."

In the invocation, Picatinny Arsenal Garrison Chaplain, Lt. Col. Terrence Walsh, said, "We remember the lives that were lost, but we also remember the heroism of those who ran into the fire which engulfed the Twin Towers and the Pentagon."

"Today's ceremony shows our remembrance of those that lost their lives on this day fourteen years ago and the sacrifices our service members have made as they have served this nation since the horrific event," Burden said after the ceremony. "It is important that we remember and also publicly express our gratitude for all that our service members have done to defend this great nation."

Related Links:

Army.mil: Patriot Day