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Remembering the strength of our nation

Photo By Sgt. Kandi Huggins | Retired Command Sergeant Major Marty Wells, renders honors after the memorial wreath...... read more read more

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

09.11.2014

Courtesy Story

81st Readiness Division

By Sgt. Kandi Huggins, 81st Regional Support Command Public Affairs

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Police cars blocked the roads. Their flashing blue lights were seen from nearly every cardinal direction. A number of fire trucks and ambulances created a trail of vehicles leading to a growing crowd. Officers, firemen, emergency service personnel and even service members joined their ranks but made no effort to break them up. The crowd did not congregate because of an accident or emergency. Instead, they all came together in remembrance of the events which occurred on this day, Sept. 11, 13 years ago.

First responders, service members, families and supporters gathered at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center to recognize and remember everyone affected by the events of 9/11 during a First Responders Remembrance Memorial Ceremony.

The First Responders Remembrance Memorial was built in 2011, integrating two 9/11 historic World Trade Center steel beams from Tower One. It includes all South Carolina Midlands firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical services and all branches of the military that have lost their lives in the line of duty since Sept. 11.

For the past three years, memorial ceremonies have been held in remembrance of that tragic day, however, this year was unique. This year, the ceremony was about the families and what they wanted the day to be.

“We must never forget the first responders, service members, all of those who died on 9/11,” said Maj. Gen. Gill Beck, commander, 81st Regional Support Command. “We must never forget [and today is a] reminder to how important families are and why families are the key to everything we do.”

Beck said we were blessed with the families we had, and we recognize our families for all they do and all they allow us to do.

Two families in the audience who felt just as blessed to have had sons serve, fight and die for their country, were neighbors Sharon Fitzgerald-Foster and Diane Rawl.

Foster’s son, former 1st Lt. Almar Fitzgerald, served with the Marines and died in Iraq in 2006. Foster said Fitzgerald knew from the ninth grade what he wanted to do after high school.

“He wanted to be an FBI agent, and that was one reason he joined the military,” said Foster. “He decided to go into the Marines to get some experience under his belt.

Foster said Almar never thought he was too small to do anything. He loved life and people and she said she missed her jovial little boy.

“Today was very touching. It brought tears to my eyes today,” said Foster. “There are times I can talk about him and be OK and other times I can’t.”

Foster said she’s been to every memorial since 2011, and said it’s wonderful for people to remember and come out and give support.

“Almar always said he wanted to leave a legacy and he left a legacy, not just this with this memorial but other things as well,” said Foster. “I really enjoyed it [ceremony]; they just forgot to mention Deputy Fargo, the dog.”

In 2011, when the twin towers were hit, Almar was a cadet at the Citadel with Diane’s son, former 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl.

After the Citadel, Ryan worked with the Richland County Sheriff Department. Afterwards, he decided he wanted to be in the military and joined the South Carolina Army National Guard.

Diane said Ryan left her house to deploy to Afghanistan on Sept. 11, 2011. He was killed in action on June 20, 2012.

“He’d want to be remembered as a Christian, a good father and a giver,” said Diane. “You couldn’t keep him out the military. He loved it and he loved his Soldiers.”

Diane said she never worried about Ryan while he was a deputy, but it was something about him being deployed that made her more worried. However, when he told her he was joining, she said she was proud.

“We’ve got to have good people in the military and they couldn’t do any better than my son,” said Diane.

Two years later, Diane joined Foster in remembering their sons engraved on the replication of the twin towers.

“The ceremony is beautiful,” said Diane. “It’s really hard to see my son’s name in print whether on a grave stone or here on the pillar; all of it is real, but it still brings it back home.”

On behalf of the Gold Star families and families of first responders who live with pain and suffering, Diane said it is Memorial Day for them every day.

“What a poignant comment, everyday being memorial,” said Beck. “It is often said the true test of a person’s character and a nation is how they respond and we responded with greater strength. We are stronger when we work together as law enforcement as military, we are better stronger."

Beck said today was a day like Dec. 7, 1971, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, a day he said will live in infamy.

“American Airline 11 north tower, United Airline 175 south tower, American Airline 77 Pentagon and American Airline 93 Pennsylvania,” said Beck. “All of us who were any age on 9/11/2001, we remember where we were, we remember what happened, we remember those events. We remember 2,977 people - 2,606 in New York, 246 on the airplanes and 125 at the Pentagon, Americans but also citizens of 90 other countries.”

“We recognize the contribution from communities like the Midlands where 54 of our citizens have done their part,” said Beck. “We commemorate those heroes and recognize what they’ve done and remember them. As we rededicate ourselves to the future and we celebrate [knowing] some things that come out of loss is a celebration for human life, our ability to deal with adversity and deal with it in a way that makes us stronger. Because of your family members, we are stronger and we will continue to move forward and never forget what they’ve done.”