TOPEKA (KSNT) – Personnel at Fort Riley held their annual Sept. 11 Commemoration Ceremony for the 1st Infantry Division.
Friends, families, soldiers and first responders gathered at the Cavalry Parade Field to honor the lives of those who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Placed in the center of the ceremony was a small replica of the World Trade Center towers. It was placed on a pentagon-shaped base, and it has the names of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley soldiers who gave their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Fort Riley’s Fire Chief, Wes Hill, said firefighters do this job for different reasons, but united in community like the first responders on 9/11.
“Firemen watching those horrific and heroic events that day,” Hill said. “I think it just takes a step back and you should ask yourself: what do you learn from history? And we learned from those that were fallen those that were that day. Because we all wear a patch. We all serve within our community, and we all do this difficult job for a different reason.”
Charger Battalion honors 25th 9/11 anniversary in Topeka
Along with the Commemoration Ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Dittmer, commander of the 923rd Contracting Battalion at Fort Riley, decided to start up, for the first time on base, a 12-hour flag march. He used to take part in this event every year while stationed in New Jersey at the Picatinny Arsenal Military Base, nearly two hours away from Manhattan, New York.
Dittmer told 27 News the attacks on 9/11 are part of the reason why he joined the military in the first place.
“When I took over the battalion here back in June, I decided it would be worth wild to go ahead and make this an event that our battalion and our organization would support,” said Battalion Commander, Ryan Dittmer. “I think there are plenty of people similar to myself. Who felt like it was a sense of duty that I needed to support and do my part and serve my country.”
While talking to Garrison Commander Colonel Joseph Orr, he told 27 News he thanks his soldiers here at Fort Riley for being a part of their team. He said that no matter how big or small their role is, whether deployed for the global war on terrorism or not, they are appreciated.
“First of all, grateful that they decided to wear the uniform and be part of the team,” Orr said. “It’s absolutely astounding. Thank you for everything that they do on a daily basis, regardless if they’ve deployed to combat in support of a global war on terrorism or not. Just the fact that they stand in our ranks and continue to make us the greatest military in the world that’s ready to fight tonight as a thank you.”
Kansas flags ordered to fly at half-staff Friday to honor 9/11 victims
Fort Riley leaders made it their mission to ensure we never forget the sacrifices made that day.
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