Video summary
As the nation gathers to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the ceremony serves as a profound reminder for those who were young enough to remember the exact moment time stopped in disbelief, sorrow, and anger. This milestone highlights that an entire generation of military officers, first responders, and citizens has grown up in a post-9/11 world, with many now reaching retirement age. The event underscores the solemn duty to pause and reflect on the tragedies that unfolded at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, ensuring that the commitment to never forget is renewed for future generations.
The tribute specifically honors the brave souls who lost their lives in the immediate response and subsequent events, listing fallen heroes such as Captain Gerald F. Danto, Lieutenant Commander Robert R. Elsa, and many others from diverse backgrounds. These individuals represent a cross-section of American society, including active duty personnel, reservists, civilians, men and women, and both junior officers beginning their careers and retired officers still serving in civilian roles. Their sacrifice demonstrates that patriotic devotion is not limited to any single group but is a shared testament to the courage of all Americans who gave everything in those tragic days.
The ceremony also includes a wreath-laying ritual led by Rear Admiral Walker and Command Master Chief Fuego, accompanied by an honor guard, symbolizing respect for fallen comrades. Following this solemn act, the service turns to spiritual reflection through the reading of Psalm 39, where King David's prayer emphasizes the brevity of life and the folly of taking things for granted. This passage serves as a poignant reminder to cherish loved ones, manage blessings with wisdom and justice, and live each day with excellence until the very end.
Ultimately, the gathering concludes with a heartfelt invocation asking God to equip the faithful with courage and temperance while reminding them to be present and correct their failures in investing time wisely. The prayer seeks to honor the divine by living out values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness within the context of these incredible national blessings. Through this collective act of remembrance and faith, the attendees pledge to carry forward the lessons of 9/11 with a renewed sense of purpose and gratitude for the freedoms they enjoy today.
Read the full video transcript
As we gather here on the 25th milestone,
those old enough to recall that that day
can vividly remember where they were and
what they were doing exactly when the
attacks unfolded
and how time stopped
with disbelief by us all with sorrow,
grief, and anger for those lost.
Many of us lost families,
f friends, mentors, or colleagues. We
know survivors who carry both visible
and invisible wounds. We remember the
courageous stories of shipmates directly
involved in the immediate response at
the Pentagon. 25 years means that an
entire generation of military officers,
first responders, and citizens have
grown up in a post 911 world.
and have no and now have potentially
gone on to retirement.
So this is precisely why we must pause,
remember, and reflect upon what unfolded
a quarter a century ago at the World
Trade Center, the Pentagon, and
Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
It is our solemn duty to renew our
commitment to never forget. Thank you,
Admiral, for those heartfelt remarks. I
would now like to tell you a little bit
about each of the patriots we salute
today. We remember Captain Gerald F.
Danto.
We remember Lieutenant Commander Robert
R. Elsa.
We remember Captain Lawrence D. Getting
We Miss Angela Marie House.
We remember Lieutenant Commander Patrick
Jude Murphy.
We remember Lieutenant Jonas Martin Pan.
We remember Captain Jack D. Punches.
We remember Commander Robert A. Schlake.
[bell]
We remember Commander Dan Frederick
Chanau.
We remember Lieutenant Colonel Chip T.
We remember Captain John D. Yamnik.
This list of fallen heroes includes
officers and civilians, men and women,
active duty and reserve officers, Navy
and Army personnel, junior officers just
beginning their careers, and retired
officers still serving in civilian jobs.
It is a cross-section of our military
forces and evidence that patriotic
sacrifice is not limited to any one
group or category of Americans.
At this time, Rear Admiral Walker and
Command Master Chief Fuego will be
assisted by the honor guard in placing a
wreath in honor of our fallen comrades.
>> [music]
>> We read in Psalm 39, King David's
prayer.
Lord, make me to know my end and what is
the measure of my days that I may know
how frail I am. Indeed, you have made my
days as handbre
and my age is as nothing before you.
Certainly, every man at his best state
is only paper. Surely every man walks
about like a shadow. Surely they busy
themselves in vain. He heaps up riches
and does not know who will gather them.
Almighty and eternal God, may this
passage along with our memories of 911
serve to remind us of the brevity of
life and the folly of taking things for
granted.
We are deeply blessed to live in a
nation that holds certain truths to be
self-evident. That all men are created
equal. That they are endowed by their
creator with certain unalienable rights.
And that among these are life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.
Equip us to manage these incredible
blessings with wisdom, justice, courage,
and temperance.
in the busyiness of our days. Remind us
to cherish our loved ones, correct us
when we fail to invest our time wisely,
and prompt us to be present.
In so doing, may we honor you with our
lives and live with excellence each and
every day until the very day we draw our
last breath and you call us home. We
humbly offer this prayer in your most
holy name. Amen. Amen.