Still standing strong

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brittain Crolley
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  More than a decade has passed since four hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Penn. These acts of terror took the lives of approximately 3,000 people.

To honor the victims, the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron hosted a memorial ceremony and 24-hour tribute run at the fire department and track at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Sept. 11-12.

With hundreds in attendance, the memorial ceremony began with the presentation of the colors by the 4th Security Forces Squadron honor guard and the singing of the National Anthem. A trio of guest speakers and a tribunal slideshow told the story of the events that unfolded during one of the darkest days in American history. The ceremony concluded with a bell ringing and 21-gun salute to symbolize the end of duty for the fallen firefighters.

The run began at the conclusion of the ceremony with the squadron's youngest firefighter, Airman 1st Class David Kravies, and ended with the oldest, Sean Quinby, fire chief.

According to Staff Sgt. Matthew Prouty, 4th CES firefighter and event manager, the turnout from Team Seymour was amazing. Hundreds of Service members showed up and ran more than 1,400 miles for the cause.

One especially dedicated Airman took the charity run to a new level. Lt. Col. Anthony Bankes, 4th Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander, ran 50 miles during the 24-hour span.

"Sept. 11 is our generation's Pearl Harbor," Bankes said. "It's a bitter memory, but it also sparked a rallying cry and brought the country together. I just wanted to do something to bring attention to the cause."

According to Bankes, he only stopped to get rehydrated because the heat was blistering.
"The support that I got from everyone was amazing," Bankes said. "At one point, the entire 4th Medical Group came out and did a lap with me and encouraged me to keep going. As I got closer to my goal, and my knees were tired and sore, every hundred yards someone would give me a high-five or tell me to keep going. It was very motivational."

Bankes reached 36 miles on the first day of the run, but informed Prouty he would be back out the next morning. He returned to the track at 6 a.m. the next morning to finish the last 14 miles. Bankes said his body was very stiff for the first couple of laps, but by the third lap he was feeling good and he was able to achieve his mark.

"He's definitely a great inspiration to all of us younger guys," Prouty said. "I'm really thankful and proud of him for running an amazing 50 miles."

Both the run and ceremony commemorated the 12th anniversary of the attacks, where 343 firefighters gave their lives saving others.

"There's two different aspects of the attacks," said Senior Master Sgt. Stacey Harter, 4th CES deputy fire chief. "There is the pride of being a firefighter and serving alongside these brave individuals every day. On the other hand, there is concern that we were attacked on our homeland."

The attacks lasted 1 hour, 17 minutes, but the aftermath of rebuilding is still going on 12 years later. Since the attacks, a memorial has been placed at Ground Zero and construction is finishing on the new One World Trade Center.

"Sept. 11 represents a day of great sadness throughout our country, and the world," Prouty said. "Every year, we all come together as a wing and put on these events and you can feel a sense of togetherness and pride amongst all of us that you wouldn't feel on any other day. [The attacks of] 9/11 remind me every year of how resilient our country is and how resilient we all are as American citizens."