2 SFS march to remember 9/11

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  This summer the 2nd Security Forces Squadron will participate in a ruck-sack march commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The event, "Ruck March to Remember," involves service members from 18 Air Force installations and four major commands including Air Force Global Strike Command, trekking from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to "Ground Zero" at the site of the World Trade Center attack in New York City.

Barksdale Airmen plan to ruck 148 miles from LaGrange to Livingston, Texas.

"We currently have 24 volunteers," said Master Sgt. Geoff Dunkelberger, 2nd Bomb Wing Inspector General, and Barksdale's point of contact for the march. "Each Airman will ruck 6.17 miles carrying a 30- to 40-pound ruck sack, giving us a total of 148 miles."

Tech. Sgt. Paul Stacey, 2 SFS unit deployment manager, said he was honored to be a part of this event.

"It makes me feel good to be able to show the family members and friends of those who were lost that there are still people out there that honor them and the legacy they left behind," he said.

"Every security forces member Air Force-wide felt the ramifications of what happened from increased deployments to the loss of security forces members down range."

When the Sept. 11 events occurred, security forces members here were on the flight line securing a 36-plane generation and Air Force One, Sergeant Stacey explained.

"It's good we have the opportunity to get involved in something like this. 9/11 is an historic event- for everyone here and all over the world," he said.

Together with other Air Force personnel, Barksdale Airmen intend to make a statement.

"We are part of a thin blue line of Airmen who are security forces by trade, American patriots by blood and connected to our brothers and sisters across the nation," said Lt. Col. Jonpaul Mickle, 2 SFS commander. "I think it is important to make this march and share a little physical sacrifice to remind service members why 4,680 of us have been killed in action."

The end of the march will be the most difficult part of the event, Sergeant Dunkelberger said.

"There are times when you are a part of something special and the hair stands up on the back of your neck, because you're doing something worthwhile. When that last person walks up carrying the Defensor of Fortis flag, it's going to be hard -- it will remind me of other endings like the people who didn't make it back," he said.