NEW: Naval War College to Hold 9/11 Ceremony in Newport

NEW: Naval War College to Hold 9/11 Ceremony in Newport

The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) will hold a remembrance ceremony to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the Patriots Memorial at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport.

The Ceremony

The ceremony will honor 11 fallen NWC students and alumni killed on Sept. 11, 2001: Capt. Gerald F. DeConto; Lt. Cmdr. Robert R. Elseth; Capt. Lawrence D. Getzfred; Ms. Angela Houtz; Cmdr. Patrick J. Murphy; Lt. Jonas Panik; retired Capt. Jack D. Punches, Jr.; Cmdr. Robert A. Schlegel; Cmdr. Dan F. Shanower; U.S. Army Maj. Kip Taylor; and retired Capt. John D. Yamnicky, Sr.

The service will feature a wreath laying, music by Navy Band Northeast, and comments from NWC president Rear Adm. Walter E. “Ted” Carter Jr., and guest speakers; U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Bestermann and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Don Thieme. The ceremony will last approximately 30-45 minutes, according to organizers.

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Guest Speakers

U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Bestermann: a student at NWC, was assigned to 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 11, 2001 and participated in search and rescue efforts following the 9/11 attacks.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Don Thieme: a NWC faculty member, will reflect on his neighbor and close personal friend, Capt. DeConto, an NWC graduate killed while serving at the Pentagon’s Navy Command Center during the 9-11 attacks.

A Special Honor

The late Frank Hanson will also be recognized for his contributions in building the Patriots Memorial, which consists of a section of limestone removed from the damaged portion of the Pentagon, located on campus at Naval Station Newport. Hanson, a local Rhode Islander who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, passed away July 27, 2013.

For more information visit: http://www.usnwc.edu/home.aspx