RICEBORO — The nation was reshaped by the events of 9/11, and the Army too has changed the way it fights, attendees at a September 11 observance learned.
The East Liberty American Legion Post 321 hosted a 9/11 commemoration in Riceboro, marking the day 24 years ago when more than 2,900 people were killed when terrorists hijacked four jetliners. One was crashed into the Pentagon, one each were flown into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center and another was crashed into a Pennsylvania field after passengers, having learned of the twin towers and the Pentagon being struck, stormed the cockpit.
“Twenty-four years ago, our nation was shaken by an act of terrorism that stole thousands of innocent lives and changed the course of history,” said Lt. Col. Kyle Thompson, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters battalion. “We honor the memories of the souls we lost on September 11, 2001.”
Lt. Col. Thompson thanked the veterans in attendance and those who served in the wake of the attacks.
“You served with courage, led with conviction and carried the weight of a nation on your shoulders,” he said. “Your legacy lives on in every soldier who wears the uniform today.”
The 3rd ID also was one of the first units involved in the Global War on Terror. Marne Division soldiers led the assault on Baghdad to topple the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and also fought in Afghanistan against the Taliban, which had allowed Al Qaeda — the terror group responsible for the 9/11 attacks — to use Afghanistan as a base.
“From the streets of Baghdad to the mountains of Afghanistan, our division has stood firm against tyranny and terror,” Lt. Col. Thompson said. “We are proud of our legacy and we continue to build it every day.”
Though Osama bin Laden, the leader and mastermind of Al Qaeda, was killed in a raid carried out by American special forces in 2011, the threat from terrorist organizations and cells continues, Lt. Col. Thompson said.
“The threat has not lessened. It has evolved and so must we,” he said. “Americans expect a ready Army, an Army that can defeat our enemies, wherever they arise. That expectation is not a burden; it is a sacred trust. Our Army meets that trust with strength, resilience and transformation. Our soldiers are equipped and prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
Above all, the event brought remembrances one of the worst days in American history “On this solemn day, we bow our heads in tribute to the thousands of innocent lives lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,” said Ron Bogart, the American Legion Post 321 chaplain in his invocation. “We pray for the eternal rest and peace of those who perished. The World Trade Center took a lot of lives, and it is still taking lives. Let us resolve to never, never forget. Let the memory of this tragedy strengthen our commitment to the memory of justice, freedom and the values that unite us as a nation.”