HONOLULU - On the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, at 9:25 a.m. on the Generals Loop, Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) staff and leadership took the time to reflect on the fallen and to remember the lives that were lost on that tragic day.
Col. Jennifer Bedick, Deputy Commander for Nursing, TAMC began the ceremony by stating, "It truly is a day that most of us will remember, we remember what we were doing at the time that it happened, we remember our thoughts, we remember friends that we might have known that were lost, we remember so many things of that day. And we remember that we can never ever forget those events. When we think about that day we think about service, we think about commitment, and we think about sacrifice."
Guest speaker, Allen K. Hoe, a combat veteran having served in the U.S. Army; Vietnam; earning the Combat Medics Badge, Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medial and current civilian aid to the Secretary of the Army for East Hawaii delivered a heartfelt message to the service members present.
Hoe also lost his oldest son, 1st Lt. Nainoa Kealiihokuhelelani Hoe, on January 22, 2005, in Mosul, Iraq where he was killed in action.
Hoe stated, "For many of our sons and daughters, their lives were changed on September 11th. They decided to make a difference in the lives of others in the only way they were raised, as a patriot, in service to their country. Today our nation remembers those tragic events with this observance, of patriot day and a national day of service each year. I see it every day and I see it now in those faces of our nation's greatest gift to the world, our men and women in uniform."
In honor of all those that lost their lives, there was a moment of silence and the ringing of four bells to remember those on September 11, 2001 and the lives of our young men and women who gave their last full measure of devotion defending our great country.
Spc. Nghai Bao, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) administration, reflected on this day by stating "In 2001 when this actually happened I was going to school and I remember hearing it on the radio. I guess I didn't really understand it at that point, how much of a deep impact it would be and then I got in to the classroom and it was on TV and that's all we did throughout the whole day. I sat there and thought, wow, this is going to affect a lot of people. That was actually one of the reasons I joined the Army. It's great to be here at this ceremony because looking back at that day I can't believe it's been 13 years. I look at it now and think, this is why I'm here."
Guest speaker, Hoe, wrapped up the ceremony by saying, "As we participate in today's remembrance ceremony to honor the legacy and memory of those victims, we are reminded once more that freedom is not free."
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