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Deployed Airmen honor 9-11 with Kyrgyz president at Manas

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyz Republic --  Airmen of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing were joined by a special guest during a ceremony held at the Transit Center at Manas to honor the memory of those who died in the September 11 attacks.

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who was visiting the Transit Center, was hosted by the Airmen as a guest speaker for the 9-11 ceremony held in front of the wing headquarters building.

The president said it was a privilege to be meeting with Airmen on such a memorable and special day "when the entire world community mourns together with the friendly American nation" on the tragic events that happened on that fateful day.

"This tragedy has brought people together and has consolidated international community in the struggle against a common enemy - terrorism," said President Bakiyev. "On this particular day, we, Kyrgyz people, together with the people of the United States of America mourn and commemorate innocent victims of terroristic acts on September 11, 2001."

During the ceremony, the Kyrgyz president, with the U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Tatiana Gfoeller, placed a wreath at the memorial at the wing headquarters building in remembrance of all the fallen.

"It is fitting to mark the occasion here at the Manas Transit Center, where we see that brave men and women from all walks of life and many countries continue to combat terrorism every day, often risking their own lives to protect us," said Ambassador Gfoeller. "As we remember those who passed away on 9-11 and honor the loved ones they left behind, we realize that we are on this earth for only a short time. We should fill our lives with the things that matter - family, love for neighbors, love for country, and gratitude for each moment ... September 11 has come to mean more than just the fight with extremism; September 11 is a day to focus on what brings us together."

After the ceremony, the president and his delegates were given a tour by the Director of the Transit Center, Col. Blaine Holt.

The president said the mission and the efforts of the men and women here have contributed significantly to the "promotion of security in Afghanistan and the region as a whole, and his country has been and will continue putting significant efforts in stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan."

"I am confident that through our joint efforts we will successfully resist global threats and challenges, struggle against international terrorism and considerably expand trade and economic relations and contacts between our countries," President Bakiyev said. "And in this context the Transit Center at Manas shall make an appropriate contribution in its further progress."