#Bridgeport, CT – As the nation and world commemorated the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, The Bridgeport Military Academy joined organizations and individuals across the country to remember and honor the thousands of innocent men, women, and children killed in the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001.
The event was planned by cadets of the Civil Air Patrol program from the Stratford Eagles Composite Squadron. There was a ceremony held during morning formation at BMA where the names of those who perished in the attacks on 9/11, from the State of Connecticut, were read aloud. Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Facundo Cremel, who is also the Cadet Commander of the Naval Junior ROTC program, rang a bell after each name was said. After, the cadets watched a brief video about an act of heroism from September 11, 2001. The event concluded with the Freedom Walk around Seaside Park. Cadets, staff, community members, and local first responders all completed a memorial lap around the portion of Seaside Park located next to the school. The procession was lead by a joint Civil Air Patrol and NJROTC color guard.
The school observed multiple moments of silence throughout the morning marking key moments on 9/11. The cadets felt it was their duty, as students in a first responder school and as part of a service driven organization such as Civil Air Patrol, to come together to plan this event. Stratford Eagles Squadron cadets call upon others to continue to commemorate the day by visiting serve.gov or 911day.org to become involved in community service opportunities.
Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. CAP’s 57,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. CAP also plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to 24,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.
Photo credits: 2nd Lt. Katelyn Moore
Photo #1: Joint Civil Air Patrol and NJROTC Color Guard
Photo #2: Cadet Chief Cremel tolling the bell for those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attack