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United Through Trag The Signature
A new ceremonial fire pit is dedicated to NAS Sigonella during a 9/11 memorial ceremony. U.S. Navy photo by MR2 Kyle Drummond.
Sigonella Remembers By ET2 Rebecca Moore
NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Force
On September 11, 2019, service members and civilians gathered on Naval Air Station Sigonella to honor and memorialize those affected by the terrorist attacks 18 years ago. Guests vowed to “Never Forget” the four coordinated attacks that targeted the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Flight 93 killed 2,977 and injured more than 6,000. “We are ever mindful of the sacrifice of emergency responders who demonstrated the highest ethic of love by laying their lives down that others might live,” said Chaplain Ryan Albano during his invocation. “May we who live on, live lives that would be worthy of the sacrifice given by so many that day.” Master of ceremonies, Master Sgt.
Danielle Heiser, invited members of the crowd to share their own stories of where they were that day. Lt. Cmdr. Lynn Skinner, a registered nurse at U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, described how her husband, a firefighter, was dispatched to the scene at the Pentagon. NAS Sigonella Executive Officer Cmdr. Patrick Moran also recalled his time in the air on that day as a flight instructor, and being immediately recalled to base. “I saw the South Tower fall and instantly knew the world was a different place,” said Moran. “Watching the events and learning the stories and the history of what happened on that day forever changed Cmdr. Hamish Kirkland gives exits remar Serviceofmembers conduct9a deploye passing of command Patrol Squadron my outlook on first responders.” "9/11" continued on Page 13
9/11photo memorial ceremony. U.S. Navy (U.S. Navy courtesy of VP-9)
