1,500 Soldiers Run for Remembrance in Honor of 9/11

Col. Patrick Mahaney grew up in the shadows of the World Trade Center in New York City, so as he looked out among the 1,500 soldiers gathered on Fort Meade’s parade field, he spoke of 9/11 with a rare sense of tangibility.

“I literally grew up inside the FDNY, raised by a New York City firefighter,” Mahaney said. “The day the war started [Sept. 11, 2001], I lost a cousin, a businessman and six friends from the FDNY.”

Prior to Fort Meade’s annual Run of Remembrance, a 5K featuring active military and civilians to remember the events of Sept. 11, Mahaney spoke of pain, of loss and also of healing.

“My father responded with the fire department and survived, but 343 of his brother firefighters did not,” Mahaney said.

The commander of the Asymmetrical Warfare Group said he felt a moment of healing just two months ago, when gazing upon the construction of the new Freedom Town in New York City.

“I thought, ‘thank God' that we have talented and dedicated people to make this possible,” Mahaney said. “To first create and then defend civilization against barbarism and chaos.”

After Mahaney’s sobering words of remembrance and motivation, the troops were dismissed to begin the 5K. The Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard all had participants in the race and completed the run while maintaining their running formations.

Every unit of each branch ran in unison, shouting their officer’s cadences, running as one cohesive group.

Mahaney’s formation included a soldier with a prosthetic running leg who maintained his pace throughout the run.

The race concluded with units’ cadences echoing around the parade field. As troops ran past, Installation Commander Col. Edward Rothstein and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) greeted the troops with applause and cheers of support.

“We are safer because we haven’t had any attacks,” Ruppersberger said, when asked if America was safer now than it was 10 years ago. But that doesn’t mean the Congressman isn’t wary of another attack.

“I’m not worried about the large attack, our counter intelligence efforts will pick that up,” he said. “I’m worried about the smaller attacks, the lone wolf.”

Ruppersberger and Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) ended the morning with some closing remarks and words of appreciation to the troops.

“We’re here today to thank you for what you do and what you do to keep us safe,” Sarbanes said. “And on this particular day, thank you for keeping safe our memory of those who perished on 9/11.”