Sept. 11, 2001, is a day that forever altered the course of American history. The nation stood in shock as the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania were brutally attacked by terrorists.
Now, 23 years later, we continue grappling with that tragic day's profound impact. A moving ceremony took place at the Main Post Chapel at White Sands Missile Range on Sept. 11, 2024, to honor the heroes and remember the lives lost.
"On this solemn occasion, we honor the 2,977 souls who left this world in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye on this date 23 years ago," said White Sands Missile Range Commander Brig. Gen. George C. Turner, the guest speaker at the ceremony.
"As we remember the two mighty towers that fell from the skies, the revered five-sided building that was reduced to four, and the fertile field that was made fallow, these 2,977 souls, one is to realize that any ordinary morning can turn into a tragedy," Turner continued. "Therefore, these souls are calling out to us today with one loud message: live your best life."
Unified in their duties on Sept. 11, the ceremony blended firefighter and police ceremonious traditions.
The Directorate of Emergency Services Honor Guard, a dedicated group of representatives from the Fire Department and Police Division, played a crucial role in the ceremony. In a poignant moment, they placed a wreath between the symbolically displayed uniforms representing the fallen firefighters and police officers who bravely gave their lives during the attacks.
During the solemn ceremony, a 'Final Call' resonated over the police department radios in reverence to the fallen police officers. This significant tradition pays tribute to officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The radios, the lifeline of police communications, mark the beginning and end of shifts and serve as vital tools for officers to connect with each other and their dispatchers while on duty.
White Sands Missile Range Assistant Fire Chief of Operations Rick Saenz reflected on where he was during the terrorist attacks back in 2001. As a brand new firefighter then, Saenz was in downtown El Paso, not excited about the emergency medical technician test he had to take that morning. Due to the events, the test proctors gave him a choice of taking the test later, but because of what was happening, he says it made him more motivated, and he passed the test, making him a fully certified firefighter.
"As a remembrance of 9/11, for a lot of us who were in the service when Sept. 11, 2001, happened, it shed light on how our world and how society has changed ever since that day," said Saenz.
During the ceremony, the tribute to the fallen firefighters was a somber ceremony known as the 'Ringing of the Bell.' During this powerful ritual, the bell tolled three times, echoing through the hearts of all those present. To firefighters, the bell carries profound significance, serving as the clarion call to battle blazes and marking the beginning and end of each harrowing emergency.
"There is something about Sept. 11 every year; it reminds you of what it is to be in the fire service and what all the emergency responders in New York had to sacrifice on that day," said Saenz
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