ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Gathered at dawn in a warm humid mist, about 300 military personnel and community members walked 3.25 miles and planted small American flags in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Sept. 9.
More than 9,000 flags were placed behind the 9/11 Memorial, which is a brick replica of the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Exactly 2,997 of the flags represented those who died on 9/11, and the rest represented the military lives lost in the conflicts following the attacks.
"I joined the Army because of 9/11," said Sgt. 1st Class James Borchardt, material integrator, Distribution Management Center, U.S. Army Sustainment Command. "[This event] brought back a lot of memories from when the twin towers fell."
At a commemoration event later in the morning, Maj. Gen. Edward M. Daly, commanding General, ASC, served as the guest speaker.
"It is fair to say that over the past 15 years all of us have sacrificed -- as individuals, as communities and as a nation," said Daly. "The attacks are still personal, as the vivid memories of the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania, remain etched in our minds and hearts forever."
Daly also asked attendees to remember those currently serving.
"I would ask that you also remember our men and women in uniform, who continue to serve and shoulder the heavy burden of adapting to the challenges of war, which are unimaginable to most," he said.
At the start of the ceremony, representatives from the Rock Island Arsenal Police Department and the RIA Fire Department placed headgear on each of the towers of the 9/11 Memorial.
Ben Kay, patrol officer, Rock Island Arsenal Police Department, placed a police hat on top of one of the brick towers in honor of the 9/11 first responders.
"Personally, it's a great honor to take apart in the remembrance of all the individuals we lost that day," Kay said.
Brandon Osborne of the Rock Island Arsenal Fire Department said he thought the event was a great example of people coming together.
"I think it symbolizes how we can come together as armed forces and government services whether they are civilians or not," he said. "It shows how everyone can unite whether it's for a remembrance event or an actual catastrophe."
Local Gold Star family members Annie Cox, Jaimie Luxmore and Brenda Luxmore, each stood with Daly and Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Moses, sergeant major, Distribution Management Center, ASC, as they placed and dedicated a wreath at the memorial.
Gold Star families are those who have lost family members in service to the nation and who have been recognized by the Department of Defense.
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jeffrey Botsford, ASC command chaplain, gave the invocation. A joint services color guard with representation from the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, presented the colors.
RIA Soldiers fired a 21-gun salute in honor of the fallen. Jereen Philips-Hardin sang the national anthem.
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