U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Wing forms Wednesday, Sept. 11, near the Academy’s 9/11 Memorial in honor of lives lost in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The annual ceremony includes an invocation, opening remarks, placement of memorial wreaths and the sounding of Taps. The Cadet Wing will continue to salute as the flag is lowered and the national anthem is played, ending the formal ceremony.
Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks, Academy Commandant of Cadets, leads the ceremony. Chaplain (Maj.) Richard Casey will open the remembrance with an invocation; Special Agent Steve Moustakas will offer keynote comments. Moustakas serves with the Air Force Office of Special Investigation’s 8th Field Investigations Region at Peterson Space Force Base, CO. The 8 FIR is responsible for conducting criminal investigations, counterintelligence operations, and providing threat information to safeguard critical technologies and information. Academy Fire Chief Ronald Prettyman joins to honor and represent 9/11 first responders. Marks, Casey, Moustakas and Prettyman will place memorial wreaths at the Academy’s 9/11 Memorial.
The memorial was dedicated Sept. 9, 2011, as part of the Class of 1976's 35th reunion class giving project. The memorial incorporates a piece of the World Trade Center and features two pieces of granite, representing the Twin Towers, atop a five-sided foundation that represents the Pentagon. The words, "World Trade Center," "The Pentagon" and "Shanksville, Pa." are etched onto the memorial.
Following the ceremony, cadets will initiate a 19-hour memorial run that includes a baton and firefighter’s helmet. They will continue the run through 11:30 a.m. Thursday, passing the baton and helmet after circling the terrazzo for 15 minutes each.
- 30 -
Media registration: News media planning to attend the 4:30 p.m. ceremony must email the following information by Wednesday, Sept 11 at noon: Media outlet, first name, last name, and cell phone number. Information should be sent to: media.rel@afacademy.af.edu. One email may list all attending representatives from each outlet. Arrival instructions will be provided to registered media. For more information, please contact U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications at (719) 333-7731 or email media.rel@afacademy.af.edu.