The Detroit Arsenal hosted a Patriot Day ceremony Sept. 11 at the installation flagpole, in honor and remembrance of the victims and heroes who lost their lives 23 years ago. This year’s theme, “United in Remembrance,” emphasized the strength found in community and the importance of coming together to honor those who lost their lives.
The ceremony began with the Detroit Arsenal choir singing the National Anthem followed by the master of ceremonies reading a timeline of what the passengers and first responders were doing that morning 23 years ago having no idea what was about to happen. The air was filled with a palpable sense of solemnity and reflection as he then asked those in attendance to think about what they were doing at that time.
The MC ended his comments by recalling the words of President George W. Bush in an address to the nation that evening, “These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”
The honor guard made up of members of the U.S. Army Garrison – Detroit Arsenal Fire Department carried a firefighter helmet to the installation flagpole and placed it with a pair of boots in remembrance of those first responders who lost their lives. Daniel Haroutunian from the choir them offered a prayer of remembrance.
“We can all recall where we were, what we felt and how our lives were forever altered that day,” said keynote speaker for the event, Col. Lisa Rennard, Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command chief of staff. “It’s a day that remains etched in our collective memory not only for the pain and tragedy felt bot also for the unity, strength and resiliency that followed.”
The colonel also recounted her personal experience of being a first lieutenant fairly new to the Army. She had just finished her morning physical training and as the news came in she knew, “we were going to war.”
“But this day is not only about remembering the past, its about making a promise to the future,” she added. “A promise that we will never forget the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost that day. We will never forget the families who are forced to live with the pain of that loss. And we will never forget the way our nation came together nit in fear but in in resolve.”
“Today we pause to reflect, to remember and to reaffirm our vow: we will never forget, we will always honor, and we will continue to stand, resilient and strong and one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all,” added Rennard.
The ceremony concluded with another performance by the choir singing God Bless America and most of the 100 plus attendees joined in. As attendees left the memorial, they carried with them a renewed commitment to unity, reminding one another that in remembrance, we find strength. The legacy of September 11 lives on, inspiring future generations to stand together in the face of adversity.
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