Fort Wainwright holds ceremony remembering 9/11 attacks

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - 21 years ago, on September 11th, 2001, thousands of lives were lost in New York, Washington D.C., and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

“It was just one of those horrible days you hope you never have to live through,” said David Halbrooks, Deputy Fire Chief with the Fort Wainwright Fire Department.

On Friday, September 9, a crowd gathered at Fort Wainwright to pay tribute to the heroes of 9/11, and to remember those who were lost.

Soldiers, legislators and guests were all in attendance. The flag was flying at half mast, a bell was rung and a moment of silence observed.

The ceremony included renditions of the National Anthem, Taps, and Amazing Grace, followed by the crowd joining together to sing God Bless America.

It was the first event of its kind on base since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Colonel Nathan Surrey, U.S. Army Garrison Alaska Commander on Fort Wainwright. “It’s absolutely important that we never allow what happened on that day to be forgotten.”

Surrey noted, “There are soldiers right now serving in our army that were born after that date, which is kind of surreal when you think about it.”

Those present at the ceremony also had a chance to observe a display of items saved from the wreckage of Ground Zero following the fateful day. “I have a giant piece of steel. I have a cross made by one of the firefighters in New York. I have a shirt that my uncle wore at Ground Zero for over a hundred and some hours of cleanup and work on the tower,” said Halbrooks.

Concluding with a Benediction, the ceremony came to a close.

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