ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Col. Marvin Walker, Anniston Army Depot's commander, spoke at the Healing and Remembrance Ceremony in Jacksonville Sept. 11.
The event is held every year in memory of Maj. Dwayne Williams and the nearly 3,000 others who died during the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as well as Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania.
"That day changed our lives and our history," said Calhoun County Commissioner Fred Wilson, as he recounted some of the losses and events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Williams, a native of Jacksonville, was serving in the Pentagon at the time. Though he was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, a monument to him and all who died in the attacks that day can be seen in the Jacksonville City Cemetery, where this year's ceremony was held.
Don Killingsworth, Jacksonville State University's director of University Relations reminded the crowd assembled that many Freshmen, who just began the Fall semester at JSU, were born in 2001.
"For them, 9/11 has always been part of their history," he said. "It's up to us, who witnessed that day firsthand, to remind the younger generations of how that day changed us personally."
Lonzie McCants, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who played football with Williams in college also spoke during the event, sharing his personal memories of Williams as well as his thoughts from 9/11.
"I did not know at that time that I, the University of North Alabama and the city of Jacksonville were directly affected by the attack," he said.
Walker also shared his memories from that day.
At the time, he was a force protection officer at Fort Bliss, Texas. He began the day on 9/11 speaking to the staff duty officer as the first plane struck the World Trade Center and that day didn't end until 4 a.m. the next day.
"We had to secure the base, because, previously, the base wasn't secure," said Walker. "It fundamentally changed the way we do our business and it fundamentally changed America from that point forward."
Walker spoke of the resolve he saw at that time - in the first responders who went toward the buildings and in the Soldiers who stepped up to deploy to foreign lands.
He said those who ran toward the battle, the members of the military and first responders, were wired that way - to want to go toward the bad guys, rather than running away.
"I don't know Major Williams, but I do know Major Williams," he said. "He is a Soldier, just like I am."
Walker told how he was assigned to the Pentagon five years later, to the rebuilt wing where Williams had served.
"We volunteer to do what we do and I have been constantly reminded, in my time, of how great this country is," said Walker.
Music during the ceremony was provided by the choir from the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville; Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade, who played "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes; and ANAD Chief Legal Counsel George Worman, who played "Taps" on the trumpet.
The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard provided a Fallen Comrade Ceremony and a 21-gun salute.
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