VFW honors 9/11

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Master Sgt. (Ret.) Larry Barnwell, senior vice commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10775 Ronnie A. Wright, hands out flowers to Spangdahlem Sabers and their families in remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nathanael Callon)

VFW honors 9/11

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Master Sgt. (Ret.) Larry Barnwell, senior vice commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10775 Ronnie A. Wright, thanks Airman 1st Class Cody Hendrick, 52nd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, for his service while handing out flowers to Spangdahlem Sabers and their families in remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Nathanael Callon)

Spangdahlem remembers 9/11

Published Sept. 12, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Jenifer H. Calhoun
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, GERMANY -- Airmen, family members and civilians commemorated the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at Spangdahlem Air Base Sept. 11, 2008.

The 52nd Fighter Wing Chapel held a memorial service at the base chapel to give visitors a chance to memorialize the tragic events.

Col. Russell Mack, 52nd Fighter Wing vice commander, spoke about being at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, as an instructor and how he felt when he learned of the attacks.
"As young aviators, we all wear the uniform and this hit home. It's our job to step up. It's what we do," Colonel Mack said.

Chief Master Sgt. Terry Norris, 52nd Fighter Wing Air Force Smart Operations superintendent, along with his wife, brought their four young children in hopes that this would provide an educational opportunity to understand what exactly Sept. 11, 2001, means to them and how it changed their lives.

He said he remembers sitting with his one-year-old daughter in the crook of his arm and saying, "Baby girl, your world will never be the same."

Master Sgt. (Ret.) Larry Barnwell, senior vice commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10775 Ronnie A. Wright, helped Sabers remember 9/11 by handing out flowers at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service food court on base.

The VFW is a congressional charter organization for combat veterans that lobbies Congress for better veterans' health care, as well as raising funds for community service, and is currently the largest veterans organization.

When approached by young Airmen who thanked him for serving, Sergeant Barnwell's response was simple. "We were, you are," he said as a reminder that the Airmen on base are the present and future of the Air Force.