Altus Air Force Base News

 

Altus AFB holds Patriot Day ceremony to honor fallen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dillon Davis
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --   More than 80 people from Altus Air Force Base and emergency responders from the community attended a Patriot Day remembrance ceremony outside the base fire station Sept. 11, 2014.

The ceremony began with an invocation by U.S. Air Force Capt. Wade Matuska, 97th Air Mobility Wing chaplain, and both the firefighters' and security forces' prayers. Members of the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department and 97th Security Forces Squadron then performed a flag folding ceremony followed by the sounding of the final alarm which pays tribute to the 366 firefighters and police officers lost while responding to the events on Sept. 11, 2001.

"Our fallen brothers and sisters displayed unwavering courage," said U.S. Air Force Col. Bill Spangenthal, 97th AMW commander, during the ceremony. "They displayed that unwavering courage on that day so that others may live. Nothing is more beautiful than that."

During the ceremony, participants and attendees paid their respects and reflected on the sacrifices made by the fallen emergency responders.

Each year, the Patriot Day ceremony is held to remind people to reflect on the tragedy and remember why they serve in the armed forces or as emergency responders.