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

Since September 11, 2001, Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford has been committed to reminding his fellow citizens every year of this dark day in American history.

Since Tuesday, 23 years ago, 2,996 people have died, including 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers. Tedford said it was important to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice from World War II to the war on terror that began with the destruction of the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon.

Passengers on the fourth jet tried to regain control of the plane but were unable to prevent it from crashing into a field in western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh.

Tedford then turned his speech to the 19 hijackers who so brazenly commandeered four planes and then referred to Fallon’s 9/11 memorial behind City Hall.

“They failed in their mission and their objective,” Tedford said of the hijackers. “This memorial is a testament to the strength, courage and patriotism of our citizens.”

To build a memorial, Tedford said, firefighters collected donations and schoolchildren wrote letters of support to families affected by terrorism. Tedford, like many county mayors, offered to help New York City. In return, he said, New York residents graciously donated a steel beam salvaged from the WTC site to Fallon. Jerry Mayfield, Fallon’s retired public works director, traveled to the East Coast after the attack and had part of the steel beam shipped to the city.

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

Fallon is one of several communities in western Nevada holding a solemn commemoration of 9/11 and the people who lost their lives. As he has done many times at these commemorations, Tedford reads a timeline of terror detailing every hour, every major event from the moment the terrorists hijacked the planes to the critical moments dealing with the various responses of governments to individuals.

Chaplain Harper Reiner of Naval Air Station Fallon thanked the city for hosting the ceremony each year. He also praised the role of the military in watching over the nation. Reiner said no force will defeat the United States.

After the Churchill County High School Choir sang the national anthem, Prosecutor Art Mallory led the Pledge of Allegiance and Melinda Lira sang 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 Pipers also provided special music.

Tedford provided additional comments, saying it is important to honor the military, firefighters, law enforcement officers and volunteers who dedicate themselves every day to protecting and serving the nation.

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

Tedford said the United States and its people continue to persevere. He noted that 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 America today because of its military members, first responders, law enforcement officers, firefighters and volunteers — all those who have courage and determination.

“There is no doubt that September 11 will be remembered as one of the darkest events 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 then, he has served multiple tours of duty at NAS Fallon in addition to three tours of duty at NAS Lemoore, California. He also served as the training officer for VFA-27, the Royal Maces, from January 2009 to February 2011 in Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan. VFA-27 is an F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron operating out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.

Mariner, who has more than 4,000 flight hours and 1,000 landings with stops, said he was honored to participate in the 9/11 commemoration in Fallon. He recalled the events of 23 years ago and what it meant to a new Navy lieutenant.

“The whole world changed in a matter of hours,” he said.

Mariner said the United States was under attack and civilian aircraft were grounded. Over the next 15 years, Mariner said he was periodically deployed to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

“I worked hand in hand with the Iraqis, the Pakistanis and the Afghans. I never want to see another 9/11 or another Pearl Harbor,” he said. “None of us want that.”

Mariner echoed other speakers in saying the American people must never forget what happened 23 years ago. He added that sacrifices were made after 9/11.

The annual Fallon event also included the Olde Glory Flag Ceremony performed by NAS Fallon’s select chief officers, a three-volley salute by the American Legion Ceremonial Team and the bugle playing of Taps.

City Councilwomen Kelly Frost and Karla Kent and Councilman Paul Harmon laid roses at the city’s 9/11 Memorial Wall before Pastor Brennen Behimer gave the benediction at the end of the ceremony. Tedford and Mariner each laid a rose, followed by guests and community members.

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