News -- Team Mildenhall joins together, remembers Sept. 11

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Team Mildenhall members gathered at Remembrance Park at 1:45 p.m. Thursday to honor the victims killed in the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001.

Seven years ago, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners and flew them into the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and one was crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

During the ceremony, four Airmen, ranging from airman first class to colonel, recited the Airman's Creed after the honor guard posted the colors.
Chaplain (Lt. Col) Hodges Viccellio, 100th Air Refueling Wing chaplain, shared his thoughts and memories of that day.

"It's time to grieve once again," he said. "Not counting the 19 hijackers, 2,998 people, from more than 98 countries, were killed. Emergency workers died as they attempted to rescue other victims. And an investment bank lost 658 employees - the most of any employer.

"How does a nation grieve? Slowly, knowing we will never forget," he said. "This seventh anniversary we pause to honor those who perished that day, and those who have fallen since, in the War on Terrorism. We honor them as heroes ... heroes like those on Flight 93, who put their country before their own lives and families, and seized control of the plane, forcing the hijackers to abandon their target."

The chaplain continued, "Heroes like the New York Police Department and New York Fire Department who placed others before themselves in valiant rescue efforts. Heroes from the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Reserves, National Guard, and our allies abroad who have been - and continue to - deploy, leaving jobs, futures and families to fight for freedom on foreign soils - always with honor."

Members from the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department and 100th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog Section also participated in the service.

Editor's note: For more on Remembering Sept. 11, click here.