By Demi Sullivan
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — On the 9-year anniversary of Sep. 11, 2001 many soldiers passed by the memorial at Fort Carson with a salute and a short prayer for their fallen comrades. Sep. 11, 2001 is a date that will never be forgotten in American history as a day of terror and tragedy.
“It was a solemn day of remembrance for the victims of the terrorist attack,” shared a soldier, who prefers to remain off the record for security purposes.
On the 9-year anniversary of this catastrophic day, many of the Fort Carson soldiers stopped and took a second to remember. Near the main gate of the base, there is a 17-foot-long steel I-beam that was once part of the towers. In front of the beam is a plaque commemorating the people who passed in this tragic event. The memorial honors nearly 3,000 Americans who died during the attack. Capt. Patrick Dowdell’s father was a fire fighter in New York City at the time the towers fell.
"I feel very proud. He supported me being in the military, and he loved his job in the fire department, I know he'd be real proud that we did this. The dedication isn't just to memorialize the killed on 9/11, it's about everybody who sacrificed so much since," Dowdell said.
Capt. Dowdell was one of the four men who got to unveil the memorial when it first opened in June 2010.
“It was by far my greatest accomplishment from my time in the Army,” Capt. Dowdell said.
He explains that it wasn’t the memorial that was so great, it was the 200 Americans that came to the base for the unveiling.
“To see that people support what you do, even 9 years later is rewarding” Dowdell said.
Other soldiers had the same outlook on support, one whom wishes to remain unnamed said,
“That support, while not found everywhere, is always found in the right moments, in the most unexpected fashion. I’ve seen single people park their cars outside the gate to Fort Carson, and spend hours holding a sign that simply says ‘Thank you’ to all those that leave out to pretend to have a civilian life,” the soldier said.
Many soldiers stopped by the memorial that day. One who just got back from Afghanistan this past May, Daniel Crookston, serves as Infantry in 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, under 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
“I joined the army to fulfill my sense of civic duty and serve a tour in combat. The decision was solidified at the loss of my older brother in Iraq,” said Crookston.
For this soldier the terrorist attack on Sept.11 hits close to home. Losing a brother may ward off some soldiers but it only brought this one closer to the army. Crookston felt the army was his chance to show his brother respect and say good-bye. His brother was deployed in one of the first division’s to Iraq.
Crookston said he knew exactly what he was getting himself into joining post Sep. 11. He clarified with or with out a war he felt like he owed it to America.
“The post 9/11 Army is very different from the pre 9/11 Army. Discipline and dedication are paramount to our cause; no soldier that joined after 9/11 expected an easy ride. We all joined knowing that we were going to war, and that our efforts were going to keep Americans safe for years to come. It is a hard thing to commit to, and a hard life to lead. But freedom is never free, and some pay more than others,” said Crookston.
The soldiers never forget what they stand for or why they are fighting, but they do what they need to in order to keep America safe. One of the soldiers shared that it seems that Americans have forgotten about Sep. 11. However, Crookston quickly elaborated by saying,
“I don’t believe that anyone has forgotten, but like any loss, the pain fades with time, and people must go on with their lives. Time stops for no man.”
Crookston lived in solace while in Iraq when referring to a quote by Thomas Paine.
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”
He said the quote reminds him why he fights, and gives him hope that one day when he is an old man someone will fight for his freedom.
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