Remembering 9/11 heroes

About 60,000 people are participating in 90 9/11 Heroes Runs as the world marks the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11 when terrorists used commercial airliners to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and caused another flight to crash in a Pennsylvania field.

One of the 9/11 Heroes Runs was held at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Sept. 19. Sponsored by the Travis Manion Foundation, the 9/11 Heroes Run series urges people to “Run to remember, so future generations don’t forget.”

Lining the stage were boots, photos and write-ups about the 17 service academy graduates who lost their lives on 9/11; 14 of whom were from the Naval Academy.

The guest speaker, who was in the Pentagon on 9/11, when the plane hit the building, noted the naval training had him running into the burning building to help, rather than away from it. He shared the Navy’s priorities: “Ship, Shipmate, Self” and its core values: “Honor, Courage and Commitment.”

Midshipmen from the rugby, sprint football and wrestling teams manned 20 stations along the route which took the runners across Farragut Road to Dewey Drive and Howison Road in Admiral Heights. The midshipmen encouraged the runners with boom box music, offered them water, and urged them on with calls of “You can do it!, “Almost there!, “Cold water, bananas and apples straight ahead!”

Flags and firemen in full gear were scattered throughout the run. T-shirts reading, “If not me, then who…,” and “Enriching Veterans’ Lives” were also widespread.

The “six waves” of runners and a one-miler group took off to the music, “Eye of the Tiger.” The event concluded with an awards ceremony.