Commander's Message, September 2024

Fellow Legionnaires,

It has been twenty-three years… September 11, 2001.

It seems that each generation has an event during their lifetime when individuals will remember exactly where they were and what they were doing. For my grandparents’ generation, it was the bombing of Pearl Harbor. For my parents' generation, it was the assassination of JFK. I had just turned 8-years-old a few weeks before that day, so I have no clear memories of that particular day. It was the Friday before Thanksgiving, so I was probably more concerned about the Thanksgiving break than I was about the news of the day. No, for me, that event of my lifetime was 9/11/2001. 

I was stationed at Fort Riley, KS, as a battalion commander. It was a Wednesday. I had joined my unit for PT in the morning, as usual, and had returned home to shower and get ready for the rest of the day. As was my usual custom, I had the television tuned to watch one of my favorite shows, LA Law. Reruns were aired from 7-9am on one of the cable channels. As I got back in my car to head to work, I noticed a spiral notebook in the middle of the road, so I picked it up and took it to work with me, noting that the owner had put his name and contact info on the inside cover.  When I got to work, I turned on the television in my office for some background noise. At that moment, I saw the rerun of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center, closely followed by a live shot of the second plane slamming into the South Tower. I knew, instinctively, that the world had changed. 

That notebook belonged to one of the NCOs in the Division Emergency Operations Center. In his rush to the EOC, he had left the notebook on top of his car, and it had slid off as he rounded the corner to get to his duty station. 

On 9/11, 2,996 innocent people lost their lives during a series of coordinated terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center, damaged the Pentagon (killing a close friend of mine), and crashed United Airlines Flight 93 into a Pennsylvania field. It's a day Americans will never forget.  

For 9/11 victims, and their families, September 11 isn't just one day of the year — It's a nightmare that many relive every single day. Even if you or someone you love wasn't directly affected by the events of September 11, it likely still remains a day that you'll "never forget." The first of four attacks killed everyone on board American Airlines Flight 11 as it crashed into the North Tower. Just 17 minutes later, hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower, killing all on board that flight as well. Not only were both Twin Towers targeted, but a third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, hit the Pentagon a little under an hour later, killing 125. And a fourth plane — United Airlines Flight 93 — crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, as crew and passengers struggled to wrestle control from the hijackers, again killing all on board. 

Almost 3,000 people died in what many call the largest terrorist attack on U.S. soil, including 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers, and 55 military personnel.  

Now, some 23 years later, the World Trade Center has been rebuilt as a single tower named "One World Trade Center" — commonly known as "Freedom Tower" — alongside the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, located where the original World Trade Center once stood.  September 11th is also known as 9/11 Day or Patriot Day. It is meant to remember those who died in the attacks on September 11, 2001. Patriot Day is not a federal holiday and schools and businesses do not close. Some people and organizations may take some time out to say prayers for the victims of the attacks.  

On the direction of the President of the United States, the Flag of the United States of America should be displayed on the homes of Americans, the White House, and all United States government buildings. The Flag should be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect to those who died on September 11th. Many people observe a moment of silence at 8:46 AM (Eastern Daylight Time). This marks the time that the first plane flew into the World Trade Center. Please join me and show your respect on Patriot Day, September 11th. 

Please continue to keep our veterans in your thoughts and prayers, particularly those who may be in need. Keep the men and women of our Armed Forces in your thoughts and prayers as well, wherever they may be dispersed.

For God and Country, 

Bruce Gubser
Post 3 Commander