The 379th AEW remembers 9/11

Chief Master Sergeant Bruce Walker salutes during the singing of the National Anthem at a 9-11 memorial service. Chief Walker was participating in a joint coalition forces formation at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing located in Southwest Asia on September 11, 2007. (U.S. Air Force Photo/MSgt Ken Stephens)

The 379th AEW remembers 9/11

Staff Sergeant Jacob Ballard (left) assists Senior Master Sergeant Dale Hankins (center), 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief, and Brigadier General Charles Lyon, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, in placing a memorial wreath before a flag pole to honor the victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Deployed members of the U. S. Armed Forces and its coalition allies took time to perform a memorial service in Southwest Asia on September 11, 2007. (U.S. Air Force Photo/MSgt Ken Stephens)

The 379th AEW remembers 9/11

Coalition forces members attend to a moment of silence during a 9/11 memorial service at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing on September 11, 2007. The joint formation included members of the U. S. Air Force, U. S. Army, British Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force all stationed in Southwest Asia supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force Photo/MSgt Ken Stephens)

Desert Eagle remembers those lost on 9/11

Published Sept. 14, 2007
By Staff Sgt. Jason Barebo
379th AEW Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing held a Patriot Day remembrance ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to honor those that lost their lives during the attack on Sept. 11, 2001.

Brig. Gen. Charles Lyon, 379th AEW commander, and Senior Master Sgt. Dale Hankins, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Chief, laid a wreath of remembrance at the base of the flagpoles in Coalition Compound. U.S. and coalition forces members stood together in formation in honor of Patriot Day.

"9/11 is the reason why we are here," said Sergeant Hankins. "Remembering those who lost their lives on that tragic day is important and takes on a greater significance when at a deployed location. It's important that we take these few moments from the fight to honor our fallen brethren and to remember why we are here and what we are fighting for."

This year marks the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack that took the lives of Americans from all walks of life.

Sept. 11 is officially known as Patriot Day, though the name has not yet caught on in American vernacular. On Dec. 18, 2001, President George Bush signed into law U.S. House Joint Resolution 71 after a vote of 407-0 on Oct. 25, 2001 making Patriot Day the official name.

During Patriot Day, U.S. flags are directed to be flown at half-staff and displayed from individual American homes, at the White House and at all U.S. government buildings across the globe. Americans are also requested to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time - the moment the first plane struck the Twin Towers.