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Remembering those lost on 9-11

  • Published
  • By Capt. Penny Carroll
  • 127th Public Affairs
Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. --  A 9-11 memorial service was held at the Selfridge Base Chapel today commemorating the 8th anniversary of that American tragedy. In attendance were representatives from various base units filling the pews with soldiers and airmen and local military retirees who had cause to pause and stop in their duty day to remember the 2,993 lives lost that day as victims of terrorism almost a decade ago. 

The group of attendees listened solemnly as 127th Wing Headquarters First Sergeant Ethan Boyd expressed that this was, "...an opportunity to memorialize those lost and recognize our mission (as military members) and how the events of 9-11 have affected and redirected the world's course." 

The events of that fateful morning were listed off to the audience by Base Chapel Pastor Shelia Cuffee: from the first airplane hitting the Twin Towers to Flight 93 going down in Pennsylvania - which caused the loss life of citizens of more than 90 countries; a Presidential Proclamation read by Sr. Pastor Paulus Obey. The attendees were also treated to the live a capella versions of the National Anthem and "God Bless America" sung by 127th Wing member SSgt. James Donaldson. 

Guest speaker at the event was Lt. Col. Mac Crawford, 127th Mission Support Group deputy director, who spoke without prepared remarks about his memories of that fateful day. 

"I remember that after finding out about what had happened, and certainly watching the events unfold in front of us on television, that it caused us to pause and consider our safety while struggling to figure out how to protect ourselves, the installation, and our families." He closed by encouraging everyone to never stop taking the time to reflect upon and remember the lives of those who were lost that day and the changes in the nation since.