Homestead-based service members honor victims of 9/11

  • Published
  • By Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea
  • SOCSOUTH Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Special Operations Command South, along with members of the U.S. Coast Guard and the 482nd Fighter Wing set aside time to pay respect and honor the victims of 9/11 during a memorial service held outside SOCSOUTH headquarters on Sept. 10.

During the ceremony Brig. Gen. Hector Pagan, the commanding general of SOCSOUTH spoke about the importance of reflecting back to that day. Pagan said it is important to honor those who lost their lives when terrorists hijacked four American flights and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and into a Pennsylvania field nine years ago.

"We will never forget them, nor will we forget the courage of the men and women racing into the building to save them," said Pagan. "We must never forget the innocent who died on Sept. 11th, and we will never forget our comrades who have passed away defending our freedom in places like Iraq and Afghanistan ever since then."

Following his speech, a bell was rung four times during a moment of silence. Each ring signifying when an airplane crashed and lives were lost.

The ceremony concluded with the lowering of the U.S. flag to half staff in remembrance of the 9/11 attacks and to honor their memory.