HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Base officials will host a 9/11 remembrance ceremony Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. outside the chapel to honor those who lost their lives and remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
For one 66th Medical Squadron Airman, remembering Sept. 11 is not simply an act of honoring history; it carries personal significance.
“Growing up in New York with both of my parents serving on active duty, Sept. 11 wasn't just a historic date in a textbook, it was a defining reality in our household,” said Staff Sgt. Natasha Brooks, one of the event organizers. “When I arrived at Hanscom AFB, I started researching more about that morning and truly realized how deeply Boston was tied to everything that unfolded. Being stationed here in Massachusetts added an entirely new, personal layer of meaning to my service.”
The ceremony will include a timeline of the attacks, a bell-tolling and participation from local first responder agencies. Organizers will also provide a display where attendees can leave flowers and other tokens of remembrance. The display will remain outside the chapel throughout the day.
On Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked airliners crashed into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The attacks killed 2,977 people, including 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers, and injured thousands more.
Jason Garcia, Hanscom AFB deputy fire chief and co-organizer of the ceremony this year, said the commemoration is also an opportunity to recognize the lasting impact of those who answered the call that day.
Garcia said the sacrifices of the first responders continue to shape how today’s emergency responders approach their responsibility to protect others.
“The selflessness of the 9/11 first responders is the example we follow as we pledge to protect our community with the same courage and dedication,” he said.
Organizers are also inviting attendees to mark their personal connection to Sept. 11 on a map showing where they were when the attacks occurred.
Brooks said the map will offer a visual representation of the different places and circumstances from which people experienced the attacks and how those experiences continue to connect them through service today.
“Whether you were in a classroom in New York, on duty halfway across the world or right here in Massachusetts, it's a powerful visual of how all our different paths converged into a shared commitment to serve,” said Brooks.