RIA 9-11 walk and Remembrance Ceremony honors sacrifices, preservation of freedom

By Mike Bassett, ASC Public AffairsSeptember 18, 2017

usa image
1 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Duane Gamble, senior commander, Rock Island Arsenal and commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command and ASC Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Ulloth lead a 2.5-mile flag walk at dawn; which began at Memorial Field and ended at the RIA 9-11 Memori... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
2 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
3 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack of Iowa speaks to an audience that included senior military and government officials, community leaders, Gold Star families, local first responders and other Rock Island Arsenal personnel about what 9-11 means to him at the RI... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
4 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Duane Gamble, senior commander, Rock Island Arsenal and commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command speaks to an audience of included senior military and government officials, community leaders, Gold Star Families, local first respond... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
5 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Duane Gamble, senior commander, Rock Island Arsenal and commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command; ASC Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Ulloth; and Mike Hutchison, deputy to the commanding general, ASC salute during taps while Gold Star Famili... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
6 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
7 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
8 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
9 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Duane Gamble, senior commander, Rock Island Arsenal and commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command and ASC Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Ulloth, render honors to a wreath placed by Gold Star families at the RIA 9-11 Memorial during the 9-11 ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
10 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Duane Gamble, senior commander, Rock Island Arsenal and commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command; ASC Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Ulloth; and Mike Hutchison, deputy to the commanding general, ASC; senior military and government officials... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
11 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. - Military, civilian personnel and community members assembled at Rock Island Arsenal's Memorial Field at dawn on Sept. 11 to remember and honor the 2,997 individuals who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and more than 7,000 who've made the ultimate sacrifice fighting terrorism since.

Participants in the march walked a 2.5-mile route to the 9-11 memorial, following in tradition of the 'Sharing the Burden' march -- a 5-mile march in 2010 during which 250 bricks, weighing a total of 2,500 pounds, were carried and constructed into stone replicas of the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

They planted American flags -- one representing each life lost -- into a shape providing the illusion of shadows cast behind the Twin Tower replica, which casts shadows from spotlights on the trees behind it at night.

The ceremony began later that morning after flags were planted. Attendees included senior military and government officials, community leaders, Gold Star Families, local first responders and other Rock Island Arsenal personnel.

Representatives of local fire and police departments placed headgear on top of the memorial pillars as the honor guard circled the monument to post the colors.

The National Anthem was sung by the choir from All Saints Catholic School in Davenport, Iowa.

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) David Jacob, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, gave the invocation. ASC senior leaders then escorted Gold Star families, who placed a wreath between the pillars to honor the sacrifices of families who've lost loved ones.

Maj. Gen. Duane Gamble, senior commander, RIA and commanding general, ASC, was the keynote speaker.

"Each life lost," Gamble said, "was that of a person with dreams and hopes never realized; with unique personalities and backgrounds; with loved ones who still mourn them; with names that will be forever etched upon our hearts and forever appear on our nation's roll of honor."

Gamble noted that the United States military has made perpetual sacrifices to preserve our freedom since America's founding.

"Freedom isn't free and that will never change, but it is worth the high cost," Gamble said.

Gamble quoted President John F. Kennedy: "Let every nation know - whether it wishes us well or ill - that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend and oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty."

"Tyranny can never be allowed to win," Gamble added.

In his remarks, U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack of Iowa said; "today is a very beautiful day, much like is was 16 years ago before the attack.

"Today we honor those military, first responders and their loved ones, who have who've made the ultimate sacrifices to preserve our way of life," said Loebsack.

Loebsack noted that his son has deployed to combat since 9-11.

"Defending freedom is integral to the fabric of our country, and every day military and first responders put themselves second.

"We must honor their sacrifices today and every day," said Loebsack.

Attendees stood as three ceremonial howitzer volleys boomed loudly, and then salutes were rendered as taps was played.

Attendees sang "America the Beautiful" as the ceremony concluded.

In an interview, Davenport police chief Paul Sikorski explained how 9-11 affected law enforcement.

"Like every other American, I remember exactly where I was that tragic day and know the cost of preserving our way of life.

"It changed us in that it made us more ready and prepared to make America safer in a changing world," he explained.

After the ceremony, Brenda Luxmore of New Windsor, Ill., mother of Cpl. Bryant Luxmore - who was killed in action on June 16, 2012, while deployed to Afghanistan -- shared what the ceremony meant to her.

"These very important events help us remember and honor their sacrifices, they help us keep their legacies alive so they are not forgotten," said Luxmore.

RIA 9-11 Events

Related Links:

Related Link

Related Link

Related Link