Academy remembers 9/11

  • Published
  • By Amber Baillie
  • Academy Spirit staff writer
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Thousands of cadets and Academy leaders showed their respect for 9/11 victims, prisoners of war and those missing in action in a variety of tributes Wednesday through Friday.

The Cadet Wing held a Remembrance Ceremony in front of the 9/11 Memorial, laying down wreaths to represent the three crash locations: New York City, The Pentagon and Shanksville, PA. A remembrance run on the Terrazzo, with 975 cadets participating, began Wednesday evening and concluded at 5:45 p.m. Friday.

"Today we remember and honor not only those who tragically died that September day 12 years ago, we also pay solemn tribute to the more than 6,700 patriots who paid the ultimate price for our nation and our freedoms -- including 19 graduates of the Air Force's Academy," said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson. "We also recognize our 4,000 cadets here are the future leaders for our Air Force and our nation -- the ones who will carry that torch forward and that they, too, may one day be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice while defending our nation."

During the 49-hour vigil run, five cadets carried a fireman's helmet and baton dressed with U.S. military symbols and the POW/MIA flag, to honor the men and women who lost their lives before, during, and after the 9/11 attacks.

"We're conducting the remembrance run for the entire duration of Commandant's training, reminding us of those who have gone before us and what we are training for," said Cadet 1st Class Christian Brechbuhl, the Cadet Wing's Public and International Affairs director.

Three cadets personally affected by 9/11, assisted Johnson, Dean of the Faculty Brig. Gen. Andrew Armacost and Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Gregory Lengyel lay the wreaths in front of the memorial.

"We wanted to include this in the ceremony because it shows the Cadet Wing is not forgetting what happened on that infamous day," said Cadet 1st Class Jennifer Johnsen, the cadet in charge of ceremony activities.

A ceremonial placing of the baton and helmet at the 9/11 Memorial took placed at the conclusion of the run.

The events were coordinated by the Cadet Wing staff and Johnson and involved nearly 4,000 cadets.

Brechbuhl said most cadets have only known a post-9/11 world.

"The oldest among us was in sixth grade when the attack happened and most of us are younger," he said.

The cadets voluntarily joined the Air Force in a time of war and it is important for us to remember those who have gone before us and we must always be vigilant."