Academy to hold 2 memorial ceremonies Sept. 9

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  The Academy is scheduled to hold two back-to-back memorial and dedication ceremonies Sept. 9 to honor past and present heroes in defending America's national interests.

Visitors are welcome to observe both ceremonies from the wall adjacent to the Cadet Chapel starting at approximately 4:45 p.m.

A Sept. 11 Memorial dedication ceremony will immediately follow the Academy's annual Homecoming memorial ceremony to honor graduates who have died in the past year. During the memorial dedication ceremony, a girder from the World Trade Center will be dedicated in tribute to those who died in the 9/11 attacks. The centerpiece of the memorial is a steel girder from the World Trade Center, donated to the Academy by the National Homeland Defense Foundation. It is held up by two pieces of marble, parallel and vertical, that represent the Twin Towers.

The base of the memorial is in the shape of a pentagon, inscribed with the words "World Trade Center," "The Pentagon," and "Shanksville, Pa.," to denote the three places attacked on 9/11.

The memorial is designed to serve as a daily reminder to cadets, faculty and staff of the sacrifices made on 9/11 at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, and as a reflection on the continued service and sacrifices made by military members, first responders and their families.

The ceremony will include remarks by Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, National Homeland Defense Foundation President Don Addy and Cadet Wing Commander Cadet 1st Class Samantha Reep.

At the Homecoming Memorial Ceremony, 74 deceased Academy graduates will be recognized, including alumni who have died of combat-related or other causes since the 2010 Homecoming Memorial Ceremony. Each name will be called out along with the graduate's class year and the last cadet squadron to which the graduate was assigned. The current cadet squadron commander will then respond, "Absent."

The entire Cadet Wing will be present for this annual remembrance. The ceremony will also include the playing of Taps and a 21-gun salute.