City’s 9/11 ceremony honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice

With each passing year since Sept. 11, 2001, Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford is adamant he will remind his fellow citizens of that dark day in U.S. history.

Since that Tuesday 23 years ago, 2,996 people died including 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers, Tedford said it’s important to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice from World War II to the War on Terror that began with the destruction of both north and south towers of the World Trade Center and a portion of the Pentagon.

Passengers on the fourth jet wrestled control of plane but they couldn’t prevent it from crashing in a western Pennsylvania field near Pittsburgh.

Tedford turned his remarks toward the 19 hijackers who so brazenly commandeered four jets and then referred to Fallon’s 9/11 memorial behind city hall.

“They failed in their purpose and goal,” Tedford said of the hijackers. “This memorial attests to the strength, courage and patriotism of our citizens.”

In order to build a memorial, Tedford said firefighters collected donations, and school children wrote letters of support to the families affected by the terrorism. Tedford, like many mayors across the county, offered assistance to New York City. In return, he said the people of New York graciously donated a steel beam taken from the WTC site to Fallon. Retired Fallon Public Works Director Jerry Mayfield flew to the East Coast after the attack and shipped part of the steel beam back to the city.

Tedford said the memorial was dedicated to the community on the first anniversary of 9/11.

Fallon is one of several western Nevada communities that conducts a solemn remembrance of 9/11 and to the people who lost their lives. As he has done numerous times at the remembrance, Tedford reads a chronology of terror detailing every hour, every significant event from the time the terrorists hijacked the jets to critical times dealing with the various responses from governments to individuals.

Chaplain Harper Reiner from Naval Air Station Fallon thanked the city for having the ceremony every year. He also commended the role of the armed forces that stand vigilant to watch over the nation. Reiner said no force will defeat the United States.

After the Churchill County High School choir performed the national anthem, District Attorney Art Mallory led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Melinda Lira sung God Bless America with a Fallon Churchill Fire Department truck in the background. The Churchill County Naval Junior ROTC presented the colors, and the Mason Valley Fire Protection District Bagpipers also provided special music.

Tedford offered additional comments, saying it’s important to honor military members, firefighters, law enforcement officers and volunteers who dedicate themselves every day to protect and serve the nation.

“On that fateful day 23 years ago, America changed forever,” he said.

Tedford said the United States and its people continue to persevere. He noted President Harry Truman, who became president before World War II ended in 1945, said America was built on courage. The mayor said Truman would be proud of the United States today because of its military members, first responders, law enforcement officers, firefighters ad volunteers, all who have courage and determination.

“There will be no doubt that 9/11 will be remembered as one of the darkest in our history,” Tedford said.

Capt. Andrew Mariner, director of training and deputy commander of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center at NAS Fallon, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2000. Since that time he has had several tours at NAS Fallon in addition to three tours at NAS Lemoore (California). He was also a training officer of VFA-27, the Royal Maces, from January 2009-February 2011 at Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan. VFA-27 is an F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron operating from Marine Corps Air Station at Iwakuni.

Mariner, who has more than 4,000 flight hours add 1,000 arrested landings, said he was honored to be part of the Fallon 9/11 remembrance. He remembers the events unfolding 23 years and what it was like for a new Navy lieutenant.

“Everything in the world was turned upside down in a matter of a few hours,” he said.

Mariner described the United States as being under attack, and civilian aircraft was grounded. For the next 15 years, Mariner said he was periodically deployed in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

“I worked hand-in-hand with the Iraqis, the Pakistanis and Afghans. I don’t ever want to have another 9/11 nor another Pearl Harbor,” he said. “None of us do.”

Mariner echoed other speakers by saying the people of the United States must never forget what happened 23 years ago. He said sacrifices were made after 9/11.

Fallon’s annual event also included the Olde Glory Flag Ceremony performed by NAS Fallon’s chief officer selectees, a three-volley salute from the American Legion ceremonial team and the bugle playing of Taps.

Councilwomen Kelly Frost and Karla Kent and councilman Paul Harmon placed roses at the city’s 9/11 memorial wall before Pastor Brennen Behimer offered the benediction at the end of the ceremony. Tedford and Mariner each placed a rose followed by guests and members of the community.

Other roses were placed at a memorial remembering Jason Disney, an Army specialist from Fallon who was one of the first soldiers killed in Afghanistan in early 2002.