RAF MILDENHALL, England –
Some of us vividly remember that fateful day - 12 years ago when terrorists hijacked four aircraft and crashed two into the twin towers, a third into the Pentagon and a fourth crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pa.
While the first three aircraft caused considerable damage, the fourth would have done the same if it hadn't been for the courageous passengers onboard who overcame the hijackers and caused the aircraft to crash into the field.
These attacks were the deadliest attacks on American soil - even larger than the attacks at Pearl Harbor. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I was on my way to work when I heard over the radio there had been an attack in New York. They still didn't know what kind of attack had occurred, as the reports were still flooding in.
When I got to work, my boss had set up a little TV in our workspace to watch the news as the reports came in. I stood there in disbelief looking at the pictures of the towers after the impact. It was less than a month earlier when I stood at the base of the Statue of Liberty during a family vacation, looking across the Hudson River, seeing the skyline with the twin towers standing tall. Here we are, 12 years later and we still see the effects of that day. We are still fighting the war on terror and we are still supporting our allies as they try and accomplish the same mission.
Let us not forget those innocent victims who lost their lives that day. We should also never forget the first responders who took it upon themselves to try and save as many as they could, but in some instances paid with their lives.
On Sept. 11, 2013, the 100th Air Refueling Wing is scheduled to host a retreat in remembrance of the attacks and the lives lost. Every member of Team Mildenhall's service members and family alike, are invited to join us at the retreat. The formation will be held in front of building 239, the 100th ARW headquarters, and begin assembling at 4 p.m.