Remembering 9/11 in Naples By MC1 David R. Krigbaum, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - Detachment Europe Sailors routinely come together for special events, standing in formation as a guest speaker stands at a podium, oft with a wreath of remembrance and with a bugler on hand for “Taps.” The name changes as does the particulars of the speech, but for some, certain memorials carry greater weight and impact than others. Sept. 11 is still such an event for many Sailors serving today. “It was tough,” said Chief (Select) Information Systems Technician Guy Jacques. “Because it brings back old memories of what happened that day.” Jacques was one of more than 200 Sailors and civilians who came together on Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples to remember the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on its 13th anniversary. In a solemn setting, flanked by fire and law enforcement vehicles, with flags at half-mast behind them, chief petty officer selectees walked to the podium to deliver a synopsis of key events, a poem and a 9/11 memorial brief. The remembrance statements were read in memory of those who perished during the attacks, as well as the fire and rescue personnel who died during their efforts to save more lives. Chief (Select) Operations Specialist Amanda Doige concluded the chief selects’ speaking part with an epilogue. She spoke of the memorial in New York, built on the Towers’ footprint, and of the U.S. Navy’s unique form of remembrance with the amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD 21). “Seven and a half short tons of the steel used in the ship’s construction came from the rubble of the World Trade Center, which was incorporated into the ship’s bow,” said Doige. “The ship’s motto exemplifies a strong message, ‘Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.’ As a plank owner, I will never forget those lives lost on Sept. 11.” Though it has been 13 years, 9/11’s impact is still felt by Sailors and has had direct impacts on their lives and decisions. “Everyone has a personal connection with the events that happened that day,” said Capt. Douglas Carpenter, commanding officer of NSA Naples and guest speaker. “Everyone has their own personal story.” “What do you remember when you think of 9/11?” asked Carpenter. “Think about that and at the same time think about how you were changed by those events, how was the military changed, how was the nation changed, and how was the world changed.” Chief Master-at-Arms Juan Skewes was a seaman stationed in Sasebo, Japan and saw the attack on television while eating dinner. “It influenced my career,” said Skewes. “It motivated me to make a difference. It motivated me to get where I am today as a chief and especially as a MA [master-at-arms], going down range and doing IAs [Individual Augmentee] fighting the War on Terrorism.” For Jacques it was more personal than images on screen. A Brooklyn native, he was in high school when he first heard about the attack. “A girl came into the class room saying the Tower’s on fire, the Tower’s on fire,” said Jacques. “Many didn’t believe her at first. No one paid her any mind.” After the bell rang he left for second period, but noticed teachers and security personnel hustling through the halls looking very concerned. His next class was in a room with a view of the World Trade Center, but the first thing he noticed when he walked in was the teachers. They listened intently to the radio and didn’t notice him take his seat. They then turned on the television. He saw the Towers on fire, and then looking out the window he saw the flames coming off one of the Towers and realized what the girl had said earlier was true. “We see it all the time on TV, but to sit there and see the World Trade Center falling before your eyes is hard to believe, because it’s always been there,” said Jacques. “And so it was shocking afterwards. You didn’t know what to do at that point. What just happened? At the end of it all, that’s what led me to enlist in the Navy two years later.” “The ceremony brought back a lot of memories,” said Jacques. “It helps us remember why we do what we do. It was tough, because it brings back old memories of what happened that day. The hardest part about it was when the towers fell. No matter where you were or what borough you were in, you saw the smoke in the sky. And that smell that came with it, you’d never forget it. It was a very distinct smell that came from the Towers and you could smell it anywhere you were. For all those memories to come back, it really hits you.” The chief selects from the Naples area planned, organized and carried out the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. The ceremony concluded with a wreath laying and the playing of “Taps” by U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:25:15 +0000
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