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JBSA News
NEWS | Sept. 14, 2016

JBSA honors 9/11 Remembrance Day

JBSA-Lackland Public Affairs

In honor of 9/11 Remembrance Day, Joint Base San Antonio hosted a 9-hour-and-11-minute commemorative run Sept. 9 at JBSA-Lackland Medina Annex.

Brig. Gen. Heather Pringle, 502nd Air Base Wing and JBSA commander, provided opening remarks, thanking all the participants, before Chief Master Sgt. Brion Blais, 502nd ABW and JBSA command chief, and fellow members of the Chief’s Group ran the first lap.

The run finished with members of the First Sergeant Association running the last lap and Chief Master Sgt. Juliet Gudgel, 59th Medical Wing command chief, providing final remarks and thanked all the participants.

From 7 a.m. to 4:11 p.m., members of JBSA turned out to hit the track in recognition of the Sep. 11, 2001 attacks where 19 terrorists hijacked four airlines, causing the deaths of 2,977 people, including approximately 400 first responders.

“It changed the mind set of people and the way they looked at the military, nation and flag; they came together,” said Master Sgt. Joshua Haney, Robert D. Gaylor NCO Academy superintendent. “As time goes on, we lose focus and it loses its significance. Events like this (run) reminds us the significance of those moments.”

More than 900 members of JBSA participated as individuals, groups or units. They walked, ran or ruck-marched with weighted backpacks, Kevlar vests, helmets and even mock M-16 rifles. Some carried their unit guidons while others ran with an American Flag.

“Honestly, when you are running around, you remember,” said Haney, who ran more than 9 miles during the course of the day. “Everyone remember where they were at. I joined when there wasn’t any wars being fought and then suddenly someone attacked our country and I sat back and thought ‘why am I in the military?’ People were significantly and very intimately touched that day by losing family members.”

“As I ran around, I would really think about how I was feeling at that moment, how far I have come since that moment and the things I have done.” He continued.

While people ran around the track, volunteers read the names of the 2,753 identified victims of the attack.

“It’s impactful,” said Haney, who also took a turn reading names. “Sometimes we really forget the significance of the moment, that there are names associated to these people. They’re not just numbers. There were nearly 3,000 people who died and they all have a name, age, hometown and family. And that reminds people why they are running when they run past the speaker.”

Participants shared the same feelings, saying that remembering was important.

“It has been 15 years and I think it is important that we remember,” said Master Sgt. Jennifer Senegal, RGNCOA director of resources and event chair who also ran 9 miles during the event. “We were all affected in some way whether you were active duty, a civilian or a first responder. It is our duty to pay tribute those who fallen that day. We, as Americans, owe it to them.”

“We have not forgotten,” she added. “We will always remember and every year we will pay tribute.”