A day never Forgotten

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th Fighter Wing/ Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tyndall Air Force Base hosted a 9/11 "Heritage Commemoration" Event on Sept. 11 at the Heritage.

The ceremony began with a warm welcome from Senior Master Sgt. Travis Fritts, Career Assistant Advisor, 325th Force Support Squadron. Sgt. Fritts remembers Sept. 11. 2001 vividly.

"I was flying back from Bosnia," said Sgt. Fritts. "We had to circle Ramstein for more than an hour before they allowed our plane to land. We all thought it was a prank. When the information finally sank in, we were all stunned."

Following Sgt. Frits' introduction was a short speech from Brigadier General Darryl Roberson, 325th Fighter Wing Commander.

"On this day eight years ago, enemies of freedom committed an act of war on our country," said Gen. Roberson. "The images will forever live in our memories. But the horrific acts of few were surpasses by the heroic acts of many."

He also welcomed all attendees and introduced distinguished guest, retired Lt. Col. Raymond "Mac" MacKinnon. He was one of the ten original volunteer instructors who trained the Tuskegee Airmen.

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of young enlisted men who became the first African-American pilots. They flew more than 15, 000 missions and were awarded 744 Air Medals, 8 Purple Hearts and 14 Bronze Stars.

Captain Adrienne Beamon, , 325th Fighter Wing Chief of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, created a painting, entitled "The Experience Continues," to show that growth did not stop after the introduction of the Tuskegee Airmen. The painting was unveiled by Gen. Roberson, Lt. Col. MacKinnon and Captain Beamon.

Lt. Col. MacKinnon spoke to the crowd about his journey and thanked Captain Beamon for her hard work and dedication.

The ceremony continued with a moment of silence and ended in an F-15 flyover. The flyover was led by Major Matthew Thomas, 95th Fighter Squadron Fighter Pilot.