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Story by: SFC Sebastian Rothwyn - 138th PAD
Dated: Fri, Sep 11, 2026
CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. (Sept. 11, 2026) rdquo; Soldiers, Marines and New York State Guardsmen assembled at the Camp Smith Training Site on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, honoring the lives lost and the legacy of service established a quarter-century ago.
Lt. Col. Chad Clark opened the solemn morning ceremony by reflecting on his commissioning at Camp Smith nearly 25 years ago and outlining the exact timelines and hijacked flights that triggered the nation’s transformation.
The commemoration featured patriotic elements, including the national anthem performed by Steve Hoagland and an invocation delivered by U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Femi Fasan, who prayed for first responders, service members and families still carrying the pain of that day.
Maj. Gen. Michael Natali, assistant adjutant general, Army, delivered the keynote address. Natali shared his personal recollections of hearing about the attacks while on duty as a New York State Police road trooper stationed near the Canadian border, watching the towers fall on a small post office television.
"On that day, the New York military forces were transformed, not only at that time, but for the next 25 years to the here and now," Natali told the formation.
During his remarks, Natali read aloud the names of the 11 members of the New York military forces who lost their lives while responding or serving on September 11, 2001:
• First Lt. Gerard Baptiste, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry
• Sgt. Larry Bowman, 258th Field Artillery
• Staff Sgt. Andrew Brunn, New York Air National Guard 213th
• Staff Sgt. Jerome Dominguez, 105th Air Wing
• Spc. Rashawn Singh, 258th Field Artillery
• First Sgt. Walter McNeil, 719th Transportation Company
• Staff Sgt. Ronnie Henderson, 719th Transportation Company
• Spc. Thomas Jurgens, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry
• Cpl. Sean Patrick Tallon, New York Naval Militia
• Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Garvey, New York Naval Militia
• Officer Lt. John Perry, New York Guard
Following the address, Brig. Gen. Patrick Clare, director of the Joint Staff, and Sean Barton laid a memorial wreath next to the Camp Smith monument. Barton originally built the site as an Eagle Scout project when he was 18 years old.
Leadership emphasized that since that fateful morning, New York military forces have deployed more than 25,000 personnel overseas in support of defense priorities, ensuring that the sacrifices of those who came before are never forgotten.
