4th SFS defenders begin 9/11 Ruck March to Remember

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Gino Reyes
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Eight months ago, the 4th Security Forces Squadron commander, Maj. Jim Alves, and Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Broughman, 4th Security Forces training NCOIC, sat down and mapped out an idea to organize a ruck march from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to Ground Zero in New York in remembrance of defenders who were killed or injured in the 10 years since the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001.

"Working daily on this for eight months and to be standing here now and seeing the support from the communities is amazing," Alves said. "Makes me proud to be an American."

The march consists of 15 participating units from Pope Field, N.C., Lackland AFB,Texas, Randolph AFB, Texas, Barksdale AFB, La., Keesler AFB, Miss., Columbus AFB, Miss., Eglin AFB, Fla., Tyndall AFB, Fla., Moody AFB, Ga., Robins AFB, Ga., Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., Langley AFB, Va., Andrews AFB, Md., Dover AFB, Del., and McGuire AFB, N.J. Each unit will cover approximately 145 miles of the march.

The 4th SFS Airmen gathered in Level Cross, N.C., to receive the security forces guidon, which began its journey in San Antonio and was passed off to the 4th SFS by the 440th SFS. Staff Sgt. Benjamin Seekell, 4th SFS military working dog handler, was at the head of the 4th SFS formation to receive the guidon. Seekell was injured by a landmine with his military working dog, Charlie, in Afghanistan in May.

"Seeing an Airman who stepped on a landmine just three months ago and is here receiving the flag for us is nothing short of amazing," Alves said. "That is motivation!!"

"My most important thing is to be out here after my injury to participate," Seekell said. "I don't care if I walk five steps, I'm just happy I can be here for my unit."

Once the flag gets to the last leg before entering ground zero, it will be marched in by a joint installation security forces team.