FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- The Fort Belvoir community honored the more than 2,900 victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks Friday during a memorial service at the Community Club.
Installation Commander Col. Jerry Blixt and Installation Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Berhane began the ceremony by saying a few words about what the day meant for them.
"I know eight years ago exactly where I was at when these events took place and I will never forget. We must never forget," Berhane said.
"Many great Americans perished on that day and many sacrificed their lives for those in need, because that is who we are. That is our country.
"We also must never forget that we currently have Soldiers overseas, protecting our way of life every day," Berhane added.
Blixt noted the changes our country has endured since that fateful day in 2001.
"Eight years and one day ago, we were a different country and we saw how much it can change in 24 hours or even one moment," Blixt said.
"Particularly, the first-responders and everyone who risked their lives, what a tremendous tribute it is to our country and our way of life that people did that knowing they were sacrificing themselves for the betterment of others.
"It is a tribute to the country that in this hour of need, we are all Americans," Blixt said.
The memorial was underscored by the lighting of three candles by three honored guests, each with a significant connection to the attack on the Pentagon, and a wreath presentation by Blixt and Berhane.
Stephen Brooks, Belvoir's deputy to the installation commander; Russell Dodge, the assistant fire chief with Belvoir's Fire and Emergency Services; and Julia Regan all lit candles in commemoration of those who died.
Fort Belvoir Fire Chief Russell Dodge was one of the first responders after the plane hit the Pentagon. Dodge was lauded by his colleagues for pulling five survivors out of the Pentagon that day.
On that day, Dodge was at a Fort Myer fire station, teaching a course to some of his fellow firefighters.
Regan, the daughter of former Installation Command Sgt. Maj. Debra Strickland, lost her father, Sgt. Maj. Larry Strickland in the attack on the Pentagon.
Brooks was in the Pentagon during the attack and told the assembled crowd what it was like inside when the plane hit.
"September 11 is an emotional day for me, because I was actually in the building when the plane hit," Brooks said. "My office was in the third floor, fifth corridor and was destroyed by the plane. At the time, however, I was not in the office itself. I was on the other side of the Pentagon, filling out paperwork for reimbursement for my travel from the Pacific back to Washington.
"Everybody was very disoriented and confused once we got out of the building," Brooks said.
Brooks said he will always remember those he lost on that day.
"I will never forget their faces," he said.
"It changed our world. That day was the Pearl Harbor for the Global War on Terrorism," Brooks said.
In addition to the candle lighting, Fort Belvoir's Visual Information department showed a video tribute to the assembled crowd and "Taps" closed out the ceremony.
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