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KABUL, Afghanistan (September 11, 2008) - More than 300
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and civilians gathered today at
Camp Eggers here to remember the thousands of victims who lost
their lives during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against America.
Navy Chaplain (Cmdr.) Patrick McCormick, Combined Security
Transition Command Afghanistan's command chaplain, gave the
invocation commencing the remembrance ceremony.
The invocation was followed by the national anthem and the
reading of a timeline of the attacks.
Army Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, Combined Security Transition
Command Afghanistan commander, and the acting command sergeant
major, Army Sgt. Maj. Gregory Valcin, performed a ceremonial
wreath-laying to honor those lost.
"We all remember the exact moment we heard the news, where we
were, and how we experienced that painful day unfold," Cone said.
"Today, we remember and honor our fellow citizens who perished that
day.
"As we know, freedom has a price. We as a nation have paid a
high price for the freedom we enjoy," the general continued.
"Eighty-nine CSTC-A Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines have made
the ultimate sacrifice."
Cone said the command's men and women continue their presence in
Afghanistan, joining their allies and the Afghan government and
citizens to defeat their common enemies.
"CSTC-A is making progress in training, mentoring and equipping
the Afghan National Army and police to provide the necessary
security for Afghanistan," Cone said.
Army Maj. Wesley Cox, an embedded training team mentor for the
Afghan National Army, experienced the Sept. 11 attacks firsthand.
He was at the Pentagon when a plane hit the building.
"Being in Afghanistan actually provides a degree of closure," he
said. "The people of this war-torn nation deserve peace, security
and freedom."
The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence followed by the
playing of "Taps."
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