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Graffiti on the Walls

  • Published
  • By Pascual Flores
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Army Support Activity-Dix hosted a memorial ceremony commemorating the 13th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon and the lives lost on Flight 93 at the Soldiers Chapel here Sept. 11, 2014.

More than 300 joint base members, uniform and civilian, were in attendance to pay their respect to those who passed away.

The ceremony began with the singing of the National Anthem by Megan Rice, U.S. Marine Corps spouse, an invocation by U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Maj.) Timothy Hirten and personal testimonies about the 9/11 attacks on America.

"On Sept. 11, 2001, I was the director of Emergency Services here at (then) Fort Dix," said Steve Melly, director of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, ASA-Dix. "For me, the memories of 9/11 was receiving a telephone call from the police dispatch about the attack and meeting with Department of Defense police chief John Warlow and then Col. David Lowery, Fort Dix commander."

Melly recanted incidents where ordinary people chose self-sacrifice for the good of strangers.

"On September 11, we saw ordinary people choose duty in the face of death," he said. "Security guards in the trade center continued to help people get out even, as the buildings' were collapsing around them, and as passengers aboard an airplane refused the hijackers to succeed."

ASA-Dix Army Sgt. Danielle Crawford recalled her experience of 9/11 as a 13-year old eighth grader while in school when the airplanes crashed into the twin towers.

"We were in the classroom getting ready to start a journalism class and when the teacher turned on the television there on the screen was the footage of the attack," said Crawford. "Being so young, I was confused and after seeing the second airplane hit the second tower, I looked at my teacher and she was crying. We later learned her husband was in that tower and did not survive. "

U.S. Navy Chaplain (Capt.) retired Steven D. Brown, from Greenville, S.C., was the guest speaker for this event. Brown served with the U.S. Coast Guard Chaplain Response Team for three weeks at Ground Zero immediately after the attack on the WTC.

"The world was attacked on 9/11 and 55 U.S. military personnel from various ranks and branches were killed, but the nearly 3,000 victims represented 70 nations," said Brown. "What we cannot forget about 9/11 is that our world changed forever."

Brown remembers graffiti written on the walls and how the foul and obscene graffiti was replaced with positive and personal words for the police officers and firefighters who gave their all.

"The graffiti was very encouraging and comforting in light of the tragedy that has taken place," said Brown. "There is something about tragedy that removes all that is trivial in our lives and causes us to remember what is really important."
Brown remembered five things he saw in the faces of the rescue workers and the people helping at ground zero.

"I remember seeing their fatigue, the need for rest in peoples' eyes as they worked to help; the fraction, as to why and how did this happen; fear, of the attack on America and its' capitol; famine as to how will we survive and future, what will we do now," said Brown.

Col. Jeffery Doll, ASA-Fort Dix commander provided the closing remarks.

"Thank you for joining us this morning to remember to pay tribute to all Americans who were impacted by this tragic event on 9/11," said Doll. "It is clear that 9/11 represents one of our most significant event in our lifetime and generation and it is for this reason that we must not forget."

The retiring of the Colors was followed by the ringing of the Navy Bell by Chief Machinist's Mate retired Arlan Davis, from Browns Mills, N.J., which was rung four times for the four airplanes that crashed and killed so many on 9/11.

"September 11 is a memory of a moment in our history, when the world as we knew it was changed forever," said Melly.