NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — It was a rain or shine 9/11 remembrance ceremony by the piers at Naval Station Norfolk, as many sailors watched on during the misty, drizzly Thursday morning, with colors presented at the stairs before the N-26 flagpole on Gilbert Street.
Leading officers shared their stories about what it was like living through that day as news reports starting showing what happened to the Twin Towers in New York City. Most were unaware it was an outright attack until later in the day. The timeline of events, read aloud by chief selects, ringing the bell with each piece of that day.
“Let us never forget the lives lost, let us never forget the lessons we’ve learned,” Capt. Ray Glenn told the sailors from the podium. “And let us never forget that freedom is not free, and that we enjoy it because it’s safeguarded by the service and sacrifice of those like you willing to stand to watch.”
Twenty-four years later, many of these young service members were not alive when it happened. Higher-ups believe it is critical they know about that day.
“I guess really the big thing is to just talk about it,” said Ian Thompson, Naval Station Norfolk Command Master Chief. “Getting them to talk about it and really realize the impact that it had on the country and the direction that it put us.”
This is the second time they held this 9/11 ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.
“Today as our nation stands divisive in some form, we who stand in service shall never be that way,” Glenn said. “Because no matter where we are from, what principles that we think that we are guided by, we are guided by one thing. That is service to our country and support of our Constitution, and that is the one thing that makes us the greatest nation on the face of the earth.”
