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JBPHH remembers 9/11 a decade later

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lauren Main
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii- --  The 15th Wing, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, commemorated those who lost their lives during the attacks of Sept. 11, 2011, with a Patriot Day Ceremony at Atterbury Circle, here.

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie was a guest speaker to more than 1,300 Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, civic leaders and special guests.

During his speech, Abercrombie said though you never plan to get hit, you should always remain vigilant. He also spoke of his personal accounts of where he was on Sept. 11, and the emotions that followed when he visited the Pentagon after American Airlines Flight 77 hit the west side of the building.

During the ceremony, a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 96 Air Refueling Squadron performed a flyover during the National Anthem.

"The KC-135 flyby you just witnessed was flown by a combined active-duty and Hawaii Air National Guard crew," said Col. Sam Barrett., 15th Wing commander, during a speech. "This is a symbol of the partnerships forged and strengthened over the last decade. Despite the enemy's best efforts to weaken our spirit, we remain united."

Brig. Gen. Joseph Kim, deputy adjutant general for the state of Hawaii, also gave a speech thanking military members for their service.

After all the speakers, there was a moment of silence to honor and memorialize the lives lost in the attacks and to pay respect for the price of freedom.