28th SFS hosts 9/11 memorial ruck march

Airmen, Soldiers and civilians participate in the 28th Security Forces Squadron 9/11 Ruck March at Floyd Fitzgerald Field, Rapid City, S.D., Sept. 6, 2014. The march was first organized by the 28th SFS and 28th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection flight; since then, the defenders have organized the event and made it into an annual tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hailey R. Staker/Released)

28th SFS hosts 9/11 memorial ruck march

Cadet 2nd Lt. Jaime Torres, Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, (left), joins his father, Tech. Sgt. Jaime Torres, 28th Medical Support Squadron medical logistics flight chief, during the 28th Security Forces Squadron 9/11 Ruck March at Floyd Fitzgerald Field, Rapid City, S.D., Sept. 6, 2014. The Torres men were two of more than 30 servicemembers and civilians who participated in the annual event, a 9.11 mile march to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice since Sept. 11. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hailey R. Staker/Released)

28th SFS hosts 9/11 memorial ruck march

Published Sept. 9, 2014
By Senior Airman Hailey Staker
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- In recognition of Sept. 11, 2001, the 28th Security Forces Squadron organized and hosted the 3rd annual 9/11 Ruck March Sept. 6, 2014 in Rapid City, gathering more than 30 servicemembers and civilians for a memorial walk and ruck march.

"We do this annually and we get a bunch of the first responders in the community together --we mark a route and ruck it," said Tech. Sgt. Dale Spencer, 28th SFS NCO in charge of operations support. "Every year everybody does something to set aside some time to reflect on what happened, and what makes us Americans ... it is our way of remembering."

The 9.11 mile memorial event began near Floyd Fitzgerald Field in Rapid City and followed a bike path through the city before turning around at the Central States Fairground and concluding back at the field.

"We chose the bike route because ...we wanted to make sure anyone could come and make it more of a ruck march and memorial walk," Spencer said.

The event drew members from Ellsworth Air Force Base, the South Dakota Army National Guard, the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and the local community together to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice since Sept. 11 and the families and friends of those who lost loved ones.

"It's good to have the community here because [they] don't get to see a lot of what the military does. They don't get to see the people who are military in their community," Spencer said.

Following the march, participants were invited to take part in the 6th Annual Disaster Awareness and Safety Day sponsored by Rapid City and the Pennington County Emergency Management Office, increasing the interaction between military and community members

Spencer added that he appreciates the patriotic spirit of Rapid City, and how events like this allow the community to get to know military members as people.