103rd Airlift Wing honors 9/11 victims, heroes with flag-folding ceremony

BRADLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, East Granby, Conn. -- "Some of the memorials call everyone who died a hero--seems to me, heroes choose. Heroes are people who choose to put themselves at risk for others. Heroes choose to enter into harm's way out of duty or faithfulness because they value something or someone more than they value their own life," said U.S. Air Force Maj. David A. Larsen, chaplain with the 103rd Airlift Wing, during a flag-folding ceremony on the 9th yearly observance of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

Members of the 103rd Airlift Wing gathered around the flag poles in the Bradley Air Park to reflect on the attacks of Sept. 11 as members of the 103rd Communications Flight and Col. Thomas Powers, mission support group commander, lowered the flags to be folded. The POW/MIA flag and Connecticut State Flag were both folded by Powers and members of the communications flight. The American Flag, however, was folded ceremoniously by the 103rd Base Honor Guard in an official six-person flag fold.

"In addition to the moment of silence observed base-wide at the time the first hijacked aircraft hit the north tower of the World Trade Center, we wanted a more visible memorial service that would commemorate the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States," said Col. Frederick R. Miclon, vice commander for the 103rd Airlift Wing. "We thought it would be a fitting tribute to retire the colors on the anniversary of the attacks in a solemn ceremony in memory of those that lost their lives that day and in honor of those that have made the ultimate sacrifice in the war on terrorism that ensued as a result of the attacks of 9/11."

The event was coordinated by the Chief's Council and the first sergeants so members of the wing could "come out and reflect in a dignified way on a moment in time that changed all of our lives forever," Miclon said.

During the time of Sept. 11, 2001, "there was unusual kindness, politeness, tenderness and open displays of patriotism. The cynics said it would never last, but it will; it may burn brightly in the hearts of a few, but it is quickly rekindled when needed in the hearts of many others. We remember the victims, we remember the heroes," said Chaplain Larsen before concluding the memorial service with a moment of silence.