Ceremony Pays Tribute to 9/11 Victims

Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, Deputy Commanding General for Operations, United States Forces - Iraq, presents Army Staff Sgt. Luz Guzman with a flag and certificate at the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Al Asad Air Base, Iraq Sept. 11, 2011. Guzman is an executive administrative assistant, deployed from Ft. Bragg, NC. (U.S. AIr Force photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Rose)

Ceremony pays tribute to 9/11 victims

Published Sept. 22, 2011
By Senior Airman Chuck Broadway
9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force/AIr Component Coordination Element- Iraq

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- A remembrance ceremony was held Sept. 11, 2011, at Al Asad Air Base, to mark the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

More than 100 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines came out to honor the victims of that day.
Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, the United States Forces-Iraq deputy commanding general of operations, gave closing remarks and spoke about what this event means to all in attendance.

"It's important to take some time to recall another day that will be forever remembered by every American who lived through the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001," Helmick said.

Those in attendance were greeted by posters displaying images from ground zero, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pa. Also on display was a first responder table, complete with an axe, helmet, boots and other items similar to those used by the firefighters who gave their lives on 9/11.

"The images remind me of where I was at," said Air Force Col. Eric Bratu, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq chief of support. "They also remind me of the emotions involved, the sacrifices made and the reason we are deployed."

A civilian firefighter and four service members represented first responders and each branch of the military. They were each presented with a certificate and folded flag for their service.

"It was an honor to represent the Air Force," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathan Tegeler, 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group NCO in charge of radio maintenance. "Anywhere we go, we're representatives (for the service), but to be recognized with the other services is a privilege."

Helmick closed the ceremony with a common message surrounding 9/11.

"Today, Americans will gather all around the globe united in purpose to remember those horrific attacks against our nation," Helmick said. "United as one, we remember the innocent people who perished. We never know what the future holds, but we will never forget Sept. 11, 2001."