Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Larry Reid Jr. | Service members assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan,...... read more read more
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KABUL, Afghanistan - Camp Eggers hosted a ceremony Sept. 11 commemorating the eighth anniversary of the lives lost during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan commander, Maj. Gen. Richard Formica, addressed a crowd of more than 150 on the significance of the day.
"[This] ceremony ... reminds us of the tragedy and untold heroism that occurred this day, eight years ago," said General Formica. "It allows us to remember those who perished that day and those who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since."
Along with General Formica, representatives from the U.S. Navy and Army spoke on why they stepped forward to serve their country after 9/11.
"I was posting security at the Job Corps (in New York) when I heard the news on the radio," said Petty Officer 3rd Class William Freeman, journal clerk for the CSTC-A Joint Operations Center. "Everybody was in shock. I was angry and sad all at the same time ... that's when I decided to make a difference."
Spc. Amrinderjit Singh, who is a Sikh, also noted why he joined the Army.
"I joined the Army in the fall of 2005, my decision to do so was made in 2001," said Spc. Singh.
He added that after 9/11, there was rash generalization toward the Sikh community, confusing them with radical Muslims.
However, "retaliation was not the answer. In order to change people's mindset, I had to do something significant; this is why I stand before you today," Singh said.
Canadian Forces Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Walter Natynczyk was also on hand to provide a few words of remembrance.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm really proud to be here, I'm proud indeed of what all we've been able to do to address terrorism," he said. "Proud indeed of the tremendous work that all of you ... perform daily to enable Afghans to secure Afghanistan."
On Sept. 11, 2001, more than 2,900 lives were lost; however, many more Americans were affected by the four aircraft that were flown into the two towers, the Pentagon and an empty field in Pennsylvania.
Since that day, more than 1.1 million Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines have enlisted into the armed forces, vowing to protect the United States of America from all enemies foreign and domestic.
The mission of the Combined Security Transition Command, Afghanistan is to train, equip, mentor and advise the Afghan national security forces to provide Afghanistan with a safe and sustainable future.
CSTC-A is located on Camp Eggers in Kabul and oversees subordinate commands, including Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix and the Combined Air Power Transition Force.
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2009 13:36 |
| Story ID: | 38609 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 298 |
| Downloads: | 271 |
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