A ruck to remember 9/11

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Destinee Sweeney
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  On Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. experienced a series of four terrorist attacks targeting the World Trade Center in New York City, N.Y., and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. More than 3,000 people lost their lives.

The 20th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight hosted a 9/11 Memorial Ruck/Walk here Sept. 9, commemorating those who perished during the tragedy.

During the 9.11 mile ruck, participants had the option to either ruck, run or walk around base. Many community members wore rucks or extra weights to symbolize the weight of the attack on the nation.

Among those were personnel from the 20th CES fire department, who carried the American flag along with hoses and a hatchet through the miles.

“It’s symbolic of the weight that we share for those terrorist attacks,” said Senior Airman Richard Palmer, 20th CES firefighter.

Palmer said the ruck had additional meaning for the fire department, whose fellow firefighters climbed hundreds of flights of stairs into the unknown while others fled the towers on 9/11.

Accompanying the ruckers was a trailing vehicle and an on-site ambulance for their safety; water was provided every three miles.

“Some of the mental and physical challenges someone would experience would be the increased amount of weight, the long distance, and the terrain,” said Senior Airman Adrian McCoy, 20th CES EOD administration. “It’s going to be challenging but I feel like we can all pull through and do it.”

During the physical challenge, participants had the opportunity to recall that day as well as losses suffered through the years.

“The people that I’ve lost, close buddies, that’s why I wear this chain,” said Staff Sgt. Josh Dockery, U.S. Army Central operations noncommissioned officer in charge, gesturing to the red, white and blue chain decorated with names hanging around his neck. “I have fallen soldiers on every link of this chain and most of them I knew. I’m just carrying their weight.”

The 9/11 ruck brought together members of Team Shaw to remember and observe history just as the nation came together 15 years ago to take care of its citizens and ruck on toward recovery.