Photo By Capt. Joy Staab | Retired Maj. Gen. Al Wilkening, former adjutant general, and Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar,...... read more read more
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Army and Air National Guardsmen gathered at a dedication ceremony held to unveil a new 9/11 remembrance monument displayed outside of the Joint Force Headquarters building in Madison, Wisconsin, Oct. 3.
The ceremony included comments from the current and former adjutants general of Wisconsin, a wreath laying and moment of silence.
Retired Maj. Gen. Albert Wilkening, the acting Wisconsin adjutant general on Sept. 11, 2001, shared his memories of that fateful day with troops at the dedication ceremony.
“I felt surprise shock, anger, but at the end of the day it was all pride, because those of you in uniform did what needed to be done,” Wilkening said. “Your actions communicated to our communities, our citizens, to the world, that we were ready to do whatever it took to protect our citizen in the future.”
Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, Wisconsin adjutant general, explained how Guardsmen across the country instinctively responded to the terrorist attacks.
“After seeing the news tens of thousands simply got up, put their uniform on and went to their armory,” Dunbar said. “Always Ready, Always There is much more than a slogan — it is our commitment and dedication to this nation and it was on display on Sept. 11.
“The purpose of this memorial is simple — to remember,” Dunbar continued. “To remember the nation we were on Sept. 10 and how we changed when the world stood still. To remember our anger, our shock, our frustration at so many lost innocent lives. To remember the response from our citizens and first responders whose resiliency inspired us all, and to remember the response of the military both here and overseas. Here as we quickly, quietly and professionally increased our posture, and overseas as we headed over with a mission to hold those accountable, which we did and we continue to do.
“9/11 was a tough day, but we are measured by how we respond on tough days, and America is a resilient nation,” Dunbar said. “We remain united and resolute on the values that matter … liberty, freedom, the rule of law. We will remember those who serve and those who supported us. This memorial will stand in silent tribute for generations to come. On Wisconsin and Forward.”
The 9/11 monument consists of twisted steel from the wreckage of the World Trade Center twin towers in New York City, a slab of shattered limestone from the Pentagon and a piece of black granite from Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Airlines Flight crashed.
The artifacts rest on a large polished five-sided granite pedestal, centered on a pentagon-shaped cement pad. Two granite obelisks flank the pedestal, invoking the twin towers of the World Trade Center. A flagpole stands behind the pedestal, atop which a brass eagle looks down as if on eternal watch over the monument.
| Date Taken: | 10.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.19.2015 14:26 |
| Story ID: | 179304 |
| Location: | MADISON, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 101 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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