Photo By Sgt. Maurice Moore | A joint service color guard comprised of FDNY members and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers...... read more read more
QUEENS, N.Y. –
On Sept. 11, the U.S. Army Reserve partnered with the Fire Department of New York at Fort Totten to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.
“It is truly an honor and privilege to stand before you today in remembrance of those who have sacrificed, and continue to sacrifice, in the wake of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks against our nation. We tell their stories so that we never forget,” said Maj. Gen. Kris Belanger, Commanding General of the 99th Readiness Division.
The annual commemoration paid tribute to the first responders, particularly the 343 FDNY members lost on 9/11, as well as those who have since died from illnesses related to toxic exposure during the immediate aftermath of the attacks.
The event also remembered six Soldiers from Fort Totten’s former 77th Regional Support Command who were lost on 9/11 – five as FDNY members and one as an attorney working at the World Trade Center.
“These six Soldiers were part of the first round of casualties in a Global War on Terrorism that would last for more than two decades on two major fronts. Today, our nation faces a complex national security environment in a rapidly changing world,” Belanger continued.
Lt. Col. William H. Pohlmann, Capt. Michael Mullan, Capt. Mark Whitford, Warrant Officer One Ronald Bucca, Staff Sgt. Frederick Ill, and Sgt. Shawn Powell have been honored through memorials including the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, and their bravery and sacrifice continue to be commemorated by the Army Reserve and FDNY.
In 2001, President George W. Bush designated Sept. 11 as Patriot Day. In 2009, Congress further recognized the date as a national day of service and remembrance.
"Please do not forget them, as you have not forgotten the heroes honored here today. May God bless you, our service members and first responders, and the United States of America," she concluded.
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2024 14:24 |
| Story ID: | 481033 |
| Location: | QUEENS/NEW YORK, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 92 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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