If everybody can find your seats, we're going to start now. I'll bring uniform personnel to attention,
and we'll have the callers presented by the Bloomington Police Department. Uniform, personnel, attention.
So proudly we hail at the twilight's last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars
again.
that have a seat, you may be seated at this time. Let's have a word of prayer. If you will bow with
me, our father in heaven, we come before you today, recognizing you as the God revealed to us in the
holy scriptures, the creator of heaven and earth and the father of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
25 years have passed since the morning of September 11th, 2001. Yet there are memorials that time does
not erase. Today, we remember. We remember those who began that morning expecting an ordinary day, but
never returning home. We remember husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters,
friends and coworkers whose lives were suddenly taken. We remember the firefighters who climbed stairways
while others were coming down. We remember law enforcement officers who moved toward danger, EMS personnel
who treated the wounded, dispatchers who carried desperate voices across radio and telephone lines,
military personnel who answered the call of their nation
and countless ordinary citizens who became servants to strangers in an extraordinary hour. Lord, we
remember the families who have carried an empty space at the table for 25 years. Give them grace today.
Comfort those whose memories remain painful. Strengthen those whose wounds are unseen.
We also thank you for the men and women who continue to serve our communities today. Some wear uniforms,
some sit behind a dispatch console, some work in government offices, hospitals, firehouses,
police departments, military units, emergency services, and countless positions of public trust. They
carry burdens that the rest of us often never see.
Teach us not merely to notice their uniform, position, and responsibility, but to see the person who
carries the weight of their office. Make us a grateful people. Make us a praying people. Make us a faithful
people. Remind every servant here that courage is not the absence of fear, but faithfulness in the presence
of responsibility.
Father, remind every citizen that freedom carries stewardship. Community carries responsibility. And
love of neighbor requires more than words. And above all, turn our hearts towards you. You are our maker.
You are the sustainer. Our lives belong to you and our days are known by you. And eternity rests in
your hands.
as we remember those who gave so much, teach us to live faithfully within what you have entrusted to
us. And may everything said and done in this memorial honor those we remember, encourage those who continue
to serve, strengthen the families who stand beside them, and ultimately bring honor to you. We ask this
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
I'm Mayor Carrie Thompson. None of us knows when we'll wake up to a day that we'll remember for the
rest of our lives. But 9-11-2001 was that day for many of us. I was driving to Indianapolis for an event
when I heard the first plane had hit the tower. It was confusing, puzzling. Was it an accident?
A second hit. Now wondering why. Was there a mix-up in a control tower? Threads of wonder and the news
reporting that this could be intentional started emerging.
None of us could imagine at that point that someone had masterminded a mission to use passenger airplanes
as massive bombs. And then our local NPR station reported that a third plane had hit the Pentagon. No
real details other than it was close to the helipad, right where I knew that my father was likely sitting
at his desk in the D ring that Wednesday morning.
For thousands of Americans, the news at the end of the day was worse than anything that they had imagined
when they woke up that day. They had lost their mothers, fathers, their children, siblings, spouses,
dear friends. And at about 8 PM that evening, my dad arrived back in the suburban DC home I grew up
in. Having walked through the lockdown grid,
with hundreds of others. We got the news that so many hoped for. That day and for weeks after, first
responders like those of you gathered today rushed in to help ensure families could welcome survivors
home rather than mourning the lost. Your service to our country on 9-11 and daily here in our community
is treasured. I thank you.
For the rest of us, that day we spent leaning on trusted community members, chosen family, strangers
with abundant kindness who got so many of us through our worst nightmares. I hope as a nation that we
use today to remember the way that we came together, the way humans were simply that,
We were human on that day. No one's race or nationality mattered. What mattered was taking care of one
another, taking care of our fellow human. It was only after we created stories with pieces of evidence
that we began to have an enemy to hate and a religion of people to fear. We don't want to think that any human
would use their intellect and creativity to create such terror. But in fact, that is what happened.
I'm grateful that we have leaders and thinkers in this country who use their gifts to keep us safe,
to ensure we have response plans when these events happen. And I hope we've all learned that it wasn't
one religion of people or even a nation of people
who joined together to mastermind such a tragedy. What I know as humans is that we also have people
who use their intellect and immense creativity to create a community that thrives, to create beauty
in art, synergy in services that help our neighbors reach their potential and places of belonging that
help us remember that we do and will always.
belong to one another, that we're better when we're working towards a common positive vision and helping
one another along the way. By the end of the day on 9-11-2001, I could not have imagined I would want
to treasure elements of that day at all. But in fact, there is a lining that still glimmers and is worth
remembering
how we cared for and treasured one another no matter what that day. How our differences disappeared
and our common drive to survive and heal was the most important thing to an entire nation. For those
of you who spend your every day rushing in when emergencies happen, working to save and protect no matter
who is in need, thank you.
for your daily contributions to our human peace. From a day none of us hope to see again, may we all
take this as our reminder to use our immense potential in innovation, creativity, and intellect to create
something that lifts us up and builds us forward together. That is our best path to creating a community
and indeed a world that will do the same. Thank you.
I'm Chancellor Eric Coyne, Chancellor here of Ivy Tech Bloomington. Thank you to Captain Grapehouse,
Chaplain, Mayor Thompson. Thank you to all of you so much for being here today. Mayor Thompson, your
story about 9-11 really personalizes the day for us. Thank you. Ivy Tech is inextricably linked to 9-11.
The 2001-2002 school year was our first year
as a standalone campus. 10 years ago, the community's 9-11 memorial was placed on our campus. And we
are proud to continue to host this remembrance annually to honor the victims of 9-11 and commemorate
the courageous men and women who risked their lives on that fateful day and in the years that followed.
As I reflect on the past 25 years, a lot has changed. I was stationed in England on 9-11,
It was afternoon for us when the first attack occurred and would soon become the longest day of my military
career. It was a time of shock and mourning and would set in motion events that still last today.
But for me, I also reflect back and remember it as a time of hope. The chaplain and the mayor
both highlighted this.
Hope for what we can accomplish when we work together. Hope for what we can be as a nation when we unite.
Hope for who we are as Americans. I saw people come together. People showed up for their neighbors and
for strangers they had never met. People raised their hands to serve in the military and as first responders
and in hospitals and wherever they were needed. So I have hope.
that we will remember that day from 25 years ago, and not only the tragedy, but the strength, courage,
community, and unity which demonstrated the best of who we are. And so it's my great honor today to
introduce one of those people who raised his hand to serve shortly after 9-11. Commander Luis Martinez,
call sign homey, a native of El Paso, Texas,
attended the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
He was designated a Naval Flight Officer in July 2010. Following completion of the E-2 Fleet Replacement
Squadron, Commander Martinez reported to the Tiger Tails of Airborne Command and Avionics and Control
Squadron 125 in March 2011. While at VAW 125,
He served as legal officer, avionics division officer, EKMS officer, and assistant operations officer,
where he completed two deployments aboard the USS Carl Vinson in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom. In January 2014, he joined the Greyhawks of VAW 120 as an instructor
naval flight officer, where he served as auxiliary personnel officer, PEP officer, and E2C training officer.
Commander Martinez then reported to Carrier Air Wing 7 in July 2016 as Air Defense Officer, Command
and Control Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer embarked aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Subsequently,
he reported to the screw tops of VAW 123 in April 2019 for his department head tour as Safety Officer
and Operations Officer while deployed aboard the USS Dwight
D. Eisenhower in support of strategic deterrence operations in the Arabian Sea. In March 2022, he graduated
from the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island with a Master's of Arts in Defense
and Strategic Studies. Commander Martinez has logged over 1,300 E-2 flight hours, and his personal awards
include the Strike Flight Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and multiple Unit and
Service Awards.
We know him best as the base commander at Crane. Ladies and gentlemen, it's my privilege to introduce
a dynamic leader and someone I'm grateful to call friend, Commander Luis Martinez Pomi.
25 years ago this morning, I was a high school senior on board Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, getting
my physical exams done at their medical facility so that I could attend the United States Naval Academy.
As I had always wanted to serve my nation and fly in the military, as I was walking from one medical
office to another, the doctor and I both saw TV showing images that looked as though they were from
a movie. A burning tower in New York City, but no further explanation.
We continued to the next stages for my appointment. About an hour later, as I was done leaving the military
facility, we passed that TV again, but now two towers were burning. I still didn't understand what had
happened. As my sister and I began to drive off of Fort Bliss, things were drastically different. The
beautiful West Texas morning and relaxed base posture I started the day with had now given way to a
locked down military installation
No one allowed to come on. Almost all base gates have been closed. And there were so many armed soldiers
everywhere carrying heavy duty weapons behind fortified embankments. There were even tanks near the
gates. It was a different world now. Our nation had been attacked. I had wanted to serve in our nation's
armed forces before the morning started. That evening as more information came across the television
and the news about the day's events,
There was no question. I was definitely serving. Good morning, Chancellor Coyne, Mayor Thompson, friends,
family, distinguished guests, students and faculty of Ivy Tech, first responders, fellow veterans and
service members. We gather today in the space of learning and community to remember 25 years ago in
September 11, 2001, the course of American history was violently altered.
It was a day that began just as so many others did and ended in unimaginable devastation, profound grief,
and a permanent transformation of our world. For those of us who lived through that day, regardless
of background, that morning remains frozen in time. We remember exactly where we were standing when
the news broke. We remember the sudden heavy realization that the safety and freedom we took for granted
was under attack.
Whether you live through that days in adults or whether you belong to a younger generation sitting in
the audience today, those who have grown up learning about it in history class, the legacy of 9-11 is
a pillar of our modern reality. We are here because we made a promise after seeing the smoke and ruins
of the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon, and a quiet field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We will never forget.
To truly remember September 11th, we must first confront the staggering human cost. 2,977 innocent souls
were taken from us in an instant. They were mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, daughters, sons,
friends, neighbors. They represented the beautiful, vibrant makeup of our great nation, hailing from
all walks of life. This tragedy also struck deeply within our own military family at the Pentagon,
125 personnel, including 42 sailors, Navy civilians, and contractors lost their lives when American
Airlines Flight 77 struck the building. More of our brothers and sisters were at their desks, standing
to watch, supporting the team when the front line of a new kind of war came and attacked them directly.
Among them were friends and colleagues of ours at Naval Weapon Station Crane. On that fateful morning,
a team of engineering and technical personnel from our partner command
Naval Surface Warfare Center, crane division, were inside the Pentagon when they felt the violent shudder
of the impact. They navigated through choking black smoke, pitch black darkness, and intense heat to
escape the burning building. Many attempted to rescue their Pentagon counterparts trapped under the
debris. Some survived. Some did not. For the families of the victims, the passage of a quarter century
does not erase that empty seat at the table at family gatherings. To the families and survivors, we
say to you, your grief is not yours alone to bear. Your loved ones are woven into the permanent fabric
of this nation's history. But if the enemy sought to break our spirit by showing us the absolute worst
of human malice, they failed. Because in one of our nation's darkest hours, we witnessed the brilliant
light of heroism
and love for your fellow man. We sought in the 343 firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers, and dozens
of emergency medical personnel who ran toward the fire and twisted sealed the Twin Towers and Pentagon.
These first responders climbed crowded stairwells as they donned survival gear weighing 50 pounds or
more with an unwavering sense of duty in their hearts to protect their fellow man, even when some knew
they might never come back. Here in Indiana, the call to action was answered immediately. Members of
Indiana Task Force One packed their gear and deployed into the heart of Ground Zero, working tirelessly
through the smoke and rubble in a desperate search for survivors over the following days and weeks.
And we saw it in the skies over Pennsylvania aboard United Flight 93. Faced with unimaginable terror,
a group of passengers refused to succumb to fear.
Upon learning of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and Pentagon, they whispered their final words
of love to their families, stood up, and fought back. By sacrificing themselves, they saved their nation's
capital from yet another attack. On September 12, 2001, our nation woke up to a changed world. For the
United States military, it marked the beginning of two decades which consisted of grueling, continuous
deployments.
In the days, weeks, and months that followed, a wave of patriotism swept across the country. Young men
and women swarmed recruiting stations eager to don the uniform and support this nation. They knew the
risks. They knew that what they were signing up to and for to go to war, yet they stood up and said,
send me. Those that served post 9-11 and deployed to the mountains of Afghanistan, the deserts of Iraq,
flew in the skies overhead and sailed the seas of the North Arabian and Persian Gulfs, or protected
our nation in areas not openly discussed. You carried the burden of our nation's defense. You stood
the watch in the darkest nights, ensuring an attack like September 11th would never happen on our shores
again. You bore the scars of combat. Today, we honor you with profound gratitude.
But our defense relies more than just those at the tip of the spear. It relies on the communities that
support them. Just south of Bloomington lies Naval Weapon Station crane, third largest naval installation
in the world by geographic area. Our workforce is overwhelmingly comprised of patriotic Hoosier civilians,
thousands of engineers, technicians, specialists, logisticians. From advanced electronics
electromagnetic warfare, and specialized munitions to hypersonic testing and strategic weapons systems.
What we build, test, and secure at Crane is the literal shield of the nation. Every circuit board analyzed,
every sensor calibrated, the ordinance produced onboard Naval Weapons Station Crane is done to keep
America safe, resilient, and ready. The work done right here in southern Indiana at Crane
and other installations and facilities ensure our war fighters never enter a fair fight, but instead
dominate the battle space. But as we stand here today, a quarter century removed from that tragic event,
we must ask ourselves a critical question. How do we honor those we lost? In addition to the 2,977 lives
lost on 9-11,
Over 7,000 US military personnel were lost during the global war on terror, and over 53,000 were wounded.
More than 8,000 US contractors were also killed. Further, it's been estimated that over 30,000 US active
duty service members and veterans died by suicide over the 20 years post 9-11. Honoring those we lost
cannot just be about pausing for a moment of silence once a year. It cannot.
be just about words spoken at a podium. We truly honor the fallen when we protect and cultivate the
very thing that the terrorists tried to destroy, our freedoms and our unity. Think back to the days
following 9-11. We stood with our fellow citizens and focused not on what divided us, but instead on
the values that bound us together. And we looked at what we could do for our brothers and sisters who
were suffering.
Standing here at Ivy Tech, a place built to bring people together from all walks of life, seeking to
enrich themselves and make a positive difference in their communities, I challenge us all to reclaim
that spirit of September 12th. As we look to the future, especially to the students here who represent
the next generation of innovators, leaders, and citizens, just remember this,
We cannot rewrite the history of that fateful morning. We cannot bring back the beautiful lives that
were cut short. But let us leave this gathering today with a strengthened resolve and an absolute commitment
to one another. The towers fell, the Pentagon was pierced, and the earth was scarred. But the soul of
our nation stood tall, unbroken, and resolute. For me and many like me,
Most of our time in uniform was in support of post 9-11 military operations. This is all we have ever
known. We have never not seen war. Those who chose to serve in the military or pursue careers as first
responders, firefighters, EMS technicians, and police officers across this great country do so knowing
the gravity of what could be.
as evidenced by the attacks of 9-11 and the current state of world affairs. Additionally, those volunteering
to serve in these selfless callings do so knowing this stark reality. We no longer live in a sanctuary
where our nation is free from attack by those who would wish to do us harm. We no longer live in a sanctuary
where our nation is free from attack by those who would wish to do us harm. Our enemies are constantly
seeking ways to destroy our nation and our way of life. We must always be vigilant and always be ready
to defend our great nation. To those we lost, may we always remember their names. May we always honor
our first responders, veterans, and service members. May God bless us
and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you.
Uniform, personnel, left hand, charge!
women of today's fire service are confronted with a more dangerous work environment than ever before.
We must continually change our strategy and tactics to accomplish our task. Our methods may change,
but our goals remain the same as in the past to save lives and protect property. Sometimes this comes
at a terrible cost. However, this is what we do. This is our chosen profession. It's the tradition of
a firefighter. The fire service of today is ever changing, but steeped in traditions over 200 years old.
One such tradition is the ringing of a bell. In the past, as firefighters began their tour of duty,
it was a bell that signaled the beginning of that day's shift. Throughout the day and night, each alarm
was sounded by a bell which summoned these brave souls to place their lives in jeopardy for the good
of their fellow citizens. Once the fire was out and the alarm had ended, it was a bell that signaled
completion of that call. When a firefighter died in the line of duty paying the supreme sacrifice,
It was a mournful toll of the bell that solemnly announced a comrade's passing. We, firefighters, utilize
these traditions as symbols to reflect honor and respect for those who have given so much and have served
so well. To symbolize the devotion that these brave souls had for their duty, a special signal of three
rings, three times each, represents the end of our comrades' duties and that they will be returning
to quarters. And so, to those who selflessly gave of their life for the good of their fellow man on
that fateful September day,
Your task completed, your duties well done, this is your last alarm.
Let us bow in closing prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, as this memorial service draws to its conclusion,
we again turn our hearts towards you. We have remembered names, faces, families, sacrifice, courage,
and loss. But as we leave this place, do not allow remembrance to become merely something we observe.
once a year. Let remembrance change the way we live. Two and a half decades ago, our nation witnessed
terrible destruction, but we also witnessed something else. We saw people serve one another. We saw
firefighters and police officers and emergency personnel, medical personnel and military members, public
servants and ordinary citizens move towards human need
We saw strangers help strangers. We saw people give what they possessed, strength, skill, courage,
compassion, and sometimes life itself for someone else. Lord, teach us that faithfulness is still needed.
There are still burdens to carry. There are still frightened people who need reassurance.
There are still grieving families who need compassion. There are still communities that need servants
of character. There are still public servants carrying responsibilities and pressures most people will
never fully understand. Give us eyes to see them. Give us hearts willing to pray for them. Give us wisdom
to encourage them. Give us courage
to stand beside them and give those who serve the strength to remain faithful when their work is difficult,
unseen, misunderstood, and costly. Lord, please protect our firefighters, law enforcement officers,
EMS personnel,
dispatchers, military members, elected officials, public employees, and all those who are trusted with
the welfare of their neighbors. Guard their families who share the cost of their service. Give our leaders
wisdoms, servants integrity,
communities, compassion, and our nation, humility. Lord, remind us also of the brevity of our own lives.
Help us to number our days well. May we not spend the lives that you've given us pursuing only comfort,
possessions, and recognition of ourselves. Teach us instead to understand that life is entrusted to
us by you,
our Creator. May we faithfully bear your image. May we faithfully steward what you have placed in our
hands. May we faithfully serve the people that you've placed around us. May we faithfully love our neighbors.
And may we faithfully walk with you. For those who carry memories from September 11th that few others
understand, Lord, please be near them.
For those who still grieve, be their comfort. For those whose bodies continue to bear the effects of
that day and its aftermath, Lord, give them strength. For those who continue to answer alarms and respond
to emergencies and stand watch, that make difficult decisions and enter places from which others flee,
Lord, we ask that you give them courage, tempered by wisdom and service by compassion.
When we hear the words never forget, may we understand that remembering is more than just looking back.
May remembering call us forward. Forward to gratitude, forward to service, forward to responsibility,
forward to loving our neighbor, and forward to faithfulness. Father, send us from this place with a
renewed understanding that every day is a gift.
Every opportunity to serve is stewardship. And every person we encounter is someone that was created
by you. May those who died on September 11, 2001 be remembered with dignity. May those who respond be
remembered with gratitude. And may those who serve today know that they are seen, valued, prayed for,
and appreciative. And may we live the days entrusted to us in such a way that when our service is finished,
we may be found faithful. We entrust ourselves, our families, our communities, our public servants,
and our nation into your hands. We ask these things in Jesus' precious name. Amen. This concludes our
memorial service.
Thank you for your attendance today, and may we never forget.