Travis remembers 9/11 with tribute

Published Sept. 15, 2011
By Capt. Torri White
349th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A formal tribute ceremony took place for the heroes and victims of 9/11 on Sept. 11, 2011, in front of the 60th Air Mobility Wing headquarters building.

Around the flag pole, Airmen from the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Forces, 60th Air Mobility Wing, 615th Contingency Response Wing and the 349th Air Mobility Wing were joined by civic leaders, council members, veterans, civilians and Travis community partners to pay special honor to the flag and fallen heroes of 9/11.

Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Carl Gibbins acted as the master of ceremonies and led the crowd through an honorable ceremony. The guest speaker, Col. Jay Flournoy, 349th Air Mobility Wing commander, shared his perspective on the events of 9/11 with the audience and a Travis troop formation in full service dress.

Flournoy, who was in the basement of the Pentagon when Flight 77 struck, shared his memories of that day and asked the audience if they too remembered where they were.

"Like millions around the world, I'm sure you can remember where you were," Flournoy said. "Like you, that memory is etched in my mind."

"Are you sharing your story with your children and your neighbors? Do they understand why we are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country?," Flournoy asked the crowd of more than 400 patriots.

"I ask that you never forget," Flournoy concluded as he stepped back from the podium.

After receiving a small token of appreciation for speaking, he once again stepped back to the microphone. "Never forget, never forget," he said once more to emphasize the importance of remembering that day before he returned to his seat.

Col. Robin Schultze, 60th Medical Operations Squadron commander, will never forget where she was that day and thought it was important to attend the tribute ceremony to commemorate all the people that lost their lives.

Ten years ago she was assigned to the White House Medical Unit as a flight nurse aboard Air Force One, performing her routine pre-flight duties.

"I was one of two flight nurses with the president in Sarasota, Fla.," Schultze recalls. "I was on Air Force One when we received the news."

Schultze says they repeatedly went over contingency plans and trained for the worst. On that day, the right contingency plan kicked in to action; the president boarded the aircraft, and they were airborne.

At the ceremony, a moment of silence was taken to honor the almost 3,000 people who lost their lives 10 years ago on 9/11 and to pay respect to the thousands that lost their lives thereafter in support of the global war on terror.

Retreat was then played to pay respect to the flag, which was flown by Americans all over the world after 9/11 to project patriotism and solidarity. As retreat sounded, the American flag waved forcefully in the wind at half staff, and the audience stood to pay their respects.

Maj. Pamela Townsend-Atkins, 60th Medical Support Squadron, her husband, mother and son Christopher, 8, stood in support.

"We don't want to forget what happened to our country, and I don't want my son to forget why I serve," Atkins said.

As the tribute ceremony commenced, the Band of the Golden West played the national anthem and the honor guard lowered the flag.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Bob Thrower, who drove in from Reno, Nev., for the ceremony, watched the flag being lowered.

"I drove in today for this ceremony, because I wanted to support the troops and remember all of the people who are no longer with us," Thrower said. "If we continue to remember our history, it brings us together and unites us all. It also reminds us to remain vigilant so that history does not repeat itself."

The honor guard fired three volleys, taps was played and the flag was retired. "Amazing Grace" was played on the bagpipes by Master Sgt. Iain Morrison, 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, until it was faintly heard in the distance.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Philip Laramie, Fleet Air Reconnaissance 3, stood out in the bleachers with his crisp, white Navy uniform among a sea of blue Airmen. He thought it was important to attend the Travis ceremony on his way to work to remember lives lost that day and to pay respects.

"That day touched so many people, and I wanted to remember all the sacrifices," Laramie said. "These ceremonies show we are all united and that we will always come back strong."

Although the troop formation was dismissed and the audience dispersed, the theme from the ceremony and words of the guest speaker linger on, "Travis will never forget."