News>Defenders reach New York in time for 9/11 anniversary
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The wreath that will commemorate the end of the Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember is temporarily placed among 2,976 Flags of Honor as the 25 defenders participating in the last leg of the march make their way through Battery Park in New York Sept. 11, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy L. Rake)
Staff Sgt. Benjamin Seekell and his military working dog Charlie pause for a moment of rest and reflection in New York Sept. 11, 2011. Seekell and Charlie traveled to Battery Park to witness and participate in the final moments of the Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember. Both wear the Purple Heart accolades they received after being hit by an improvised explosive device on Mother’s Day outside Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Seekell lost his left leg and Charlie received shrapnel wounds to his hind quarters. Seekell is a military working dog handler from the 4th Security Forces Squadron and is a native of Charlestown, R.I. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy Rake)
Col. Alan Metzler leads security forces members as Tech. Sgt Kenneth Broughman carries the guidon during the final steps of the Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember through Battery Park in New York Sept. 11 , 2011. The 2,182 mile journey began July 12 in San Antonio Texas and ended and Battery Park on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Broughman is the non commissioned officer in charge of training for the 4th SFS and is a native of Fithian, Ill. Metzler is the chief of security forces for Air Combat Command and is from Fresno, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy Rake)
Maj. Jim Alves places a flight of security forces Airmen at attention as they complete their Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember Sept. 11, 2011 in Battery Park, New York. The 2,182 mile march began July 12 in San Antonio. Alves is the 4th Security Forces Squadron commander and hails from Boston. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy Rake)
Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Broughman holds the security forces guidon as he listens to a commemorative speech during the ceremony that marked the end of the Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember at Battery Park, New York Sept. 11, 2011. Broughman was integral in the planning and execution of the 2,182 mile march from San Antonio to New York. Broughman is assigned to the 4th Security Forces Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. and hails from Fithian, Ill. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy Rake)
Three security forces Airmen complete the wreath laying ceremony at Battery Park, New York Sept.11, 2011. The wreath laying marked the completion of a 2,182 mile journey from San Antonio to New York. Wreaths were also laid in Shanksville, Pa. and Washington, D.C. The 2,182 mile march was part of the Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy Rake)
Staff Sgt. Benjamin Seekell watches the television monitors in the green room of the FOX and Friends studio in New York Sept. 12, 2011. Seekell and his military working dog Charlie prepare to go on camera with other members of the 4th Security Forces Squadron from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. to speak about the Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember. Charlie wears the Purple Heart he was awarded after being injured by an improvised explosive device outside Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on Mother’s Day 2011. Charlie received shrapnel wounds to his hind quarters and damage to his eardrums and Seekell lost his left leg. Seekell is a native of Charlestown, R.I. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy Rake)
A team of defenders from the 4th Security Forces Squadron stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. speak with Brian Kilmeade anchor of FOX and Friends in New York Sept. 12, 2011. Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Broughman,left, Staff Sgt. Benjamin Seekell and Maj. Jim Alves talked about their time serving in the Air Force as well as their tribute to the 10th anniversary of 9/11 through the Security Forces Ruck March to Remember, which they created to commemorate the sacrifices of those who serve their nation. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy Rake)
Airmen from the 4th Security Forces Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. speak with Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson anchors for FOX and Friends in New York Sept. 12, 2011. The team of Airmen answered questions about the 2,182 mile march they created to honor the sacrifices made by service members in the decade that has passed since 9/11. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy Rake)
Staff Sgt. Benjamin Seekell and military working dog Charlie, both wounded warriors, demonstrate the capabilities of patrol explosives dogs at the FOX and Friends studio in New York Sept. 12, 2011. Seekell and Charlie were wounded by an improvised explosive device outside Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on Mother’s Day 2011. Seekell joined other Airmen from the 4th Security Forces Squadron to speak about their time in the Air Force as well as the creation and completion of the Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy Rake)
by 2nd Lieutenant Keavy Rake
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
9/15/2011 - NEW YORK -- A joint installation security forces team took the final steps of a 2,182 mile journey ending in Battery Park Sept. 11.
The park is just six blocks away from Ground Zero and was filled with spectators, camera flashes and tears as the security forces guidon made its way through the last four miles of the Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember that began in San Antonio, July 12.
The march was created to honor the victims of 9/11 and as a time to reflect on sacrifices made by service members and their families over the past ten years.
"We've marched the past two months to remember our fallen, to honor the sacrifice of our defenders and their families," said Col. Alan Metzler, Air Combat Command chief of security forces. "And to ensure that we always remember the challenge that Jefferson so perfectly professed at the birth of our nation. Through the sacrifice of patriots we will remain free."
The Ruck March consisted of 15 participating units, each walked nearly 145 miles. The idea originated with the 4th Security Forces Squadron commander, Maj. Jim Alves. Alves presented the idea to Tech. Sgt Kenneth Broughman, also of the 4th SFS, who helped plan the event over a span of ten months.
"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the men and women of the 4th SFS at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina," said Metzler. "This march of remembrance was their idea; and their commander, Major Jim Alves, provided the leadership and perseverance to make it happen. Their leadership and sponsorship of this march is especially meaningful to me... you see, on Sept. 11 2001, I was the commander there."
The defenders persevered through many miles and challenging weather to complete the Ruck March.
"We marched through searing heat, hurricanes, earthquakes and repeated downpours but we did not walk alone," said Metzler.
An outpouring of community support marked their trail along the way to Ground Zero.
"We were hosted almost every night," said Broughman. "We actually had to turn meals away."
This was a somber commemoration of what Alves referred to as ordinary citizens making extraordinary sacrifices. Throughout the march they had many quiet moments of reflection and weariness.
"As painful as the miles were it was nothing compared to what our security forces members are doing while deployed," said Broughman.
Staff Sgt. Benjamin Seekell, a military working dog handler from the 4th SFS and his MWD Charlie were adorned with Purple Hearts. They joined two Airmen from New York to lay a wreath in front of 'The Sphere' that stood in the plaza of the World Trade Center during the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and was later placed in Battery Park.
"It's the least we could do to commemorate their lives, to get out there and put ourselves through some physical turmoil and march all those miles," Seekell said. "To show them we care and that we're here for them even though they passed we still remember and we want to carry on the legacy, that's why we do it- we do it for them."
The three 4th SFS airmen concluded their journey with an interview on FOX and Friends to share their experiences.
