Runners remember 9/11 with commemorative 5K run on Summerville Campus

AU’s ROTC program participated in the run to remember 9/11 on Sept. 10, 2022.(photo by Liz Wright)

By Liz Wright | News editor

Despite the light on and off drizzle and gloomy skies, runners from the community gathered at Augusta University’s Summerville campus on Saturday, Sept. 10, to honor fallen heroes from the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001.

To commemorate the anniversary, AU partnered with the Stephen Siller Tunnel of Towers Foundation to host a 5K run in the morning which included staff from the Richmond County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office and AU’s ROTC.

The event also featured many speakers, one of whom was the city of Augusta’s new fire chief and EMA director Antonio Burden. In his speech, Burden remembered how that unexpectedly, tragic day started for so many.

“They may have hit the snooze button just to save a few more seconds of shut eye before getting out of bed to brush their teeth, wash their faces and get dressed to start their day. However, at 8:46 a.m. eastern standard time, the music stopped,” he said. “That moment was the moment American Airlines’ flight 11 crashed into the north face of the World Trade Center, the north tower, in New York City.”

Augusta’s new fire chief and EMA director Antonio Burden speaks at the Tunnel of Towers 5K run. *(photo by Liz Wright)*

As some audience members struggled to hold back tears, Burden said Americans overcame 9/11 and became a more united people.

“These tragic of times disrupted our lives, but they did not break our souls. From the ashes and rubble came an awakening and resolve; we came together to fortify a new foundation, we united to rebuild and strengthen our communities,” he said. “I don’t know why they seldom tell us the whens or the whys, but what I know for sure is we can solve any problem put before us. For we are stronger together. I’ll say that one more time, we are stronger together.”

With photos of fallen heroes from 9/11 covering the Douglas Barnard Amphitheater, firefighters, police and other first responders were remembered by all who attended.

“Each of the registered participants received a badge that displays one of the 343 heroes that we lost that day. We ask that you clip this and carry it to the finish line in honor of their memory and the other thousands of lives that were lost in America that day,” said the master of ceremonies, Michael Siewert.

Burden spoke on the ‘indomitable will’ of Americans and how Sept. 11 continues to mark a day of healing and perseverance.

“The event and the moment speaks for itself, so why not partner together to celebrate this together as a community,” said Burden. “It’s important to remember the resolve of America. Really what comes to mind is a quote by Gandhi who said that, ‘strength does not come from physical capacity, instead it comes from the indomitable will to survive,’ and that’s what I’m reminded of today.”

Siewert said he believes it’s important to remember and honor how families were forever changed and why time does not make those families’ sacrifices any less important.

“We lost lives, we lost heroes – their families were forever changed and their lives were forever changed. Our lives were forever changed. So it’s something we have to remember,” he said. “We united after 9/11 and we need to remember how we healed from that and how we continue to heal.”

He also said he believes, without tributes and memorials such as the Tunnel to Towers 5K run, people would lose more than just the memory of selfless heroes.

“We lose humanity; we lose sight of ourselves, of where the nation is going and the direction,'“ said Siewert. “It’s about unity and strength.”

After bagpipes were played, bells were rung, and salutes were given, participants lined up at the starting line to begin the 5K.

The first participant to cross the finish line and retired military, Sterling Packer, said, “I deployed in Afghanistan right after 9/11 so there’s a place in my heart for it, and just to be able to remember those that I served with, everybody else that lost their lives and those who continue to serve.”

Sterling Packer was the first participant to cross the finish line at the 5K run. *(photo by Liz Wright)*

Packer also explained his thoughts on why Americans must remember Sept. 11 and how it affected the nation.

“If we forget that’s when bad things happen,” he said. “As a country I think we’re a lot more understanding now of the sacrifice our military and first responders make for our country so we can enjoy our freedom.”

Another attendee who has family in the fire service, Damien Taitague, said, “it’s just something that’s patriotic to thank everybody for their service for our country. I feel like it’s important to come together as a community and forget about everything else, all the hatred and everything - just come together as one, and participate as a group and just love each other.”

While some who participated in the run have been running for a while, there were some beginners who proudly finished as well.

One of these newer runners included an 11-year-old girl named Parker Tatum, who participated in honor of her uncle who passed away in the devastation of Sept. 11 and has been recently learning about the event in school.

“I lived in New York on 9/11 so I just have that personal experience,” Parker’s mother, Suzanne Tatum, said. “I think at the time I remember someone told me to look for the helpers and to focus on that after the tragedy. So that as I watched the city and as things were so scary, I just focused on the helpers and those were the first responders. I think, at that time, it just brought our country together and united.”

Tatum also said she thinks remembering the falling of the Twin Towers is “something everybody can rally around'“ which continues to unite the nation years later despite other differences people may have.

“It was a pivotal day for our country and so I think people can join together and align in that memory, and to support our first responders and our country,” she said. “It’s just part of history and it teaches us the importance of being aware.”

For those who might shy away from participating out of running inexperience, Taitague said, “don’t let anybody hold you back, just come out and do the best that you can do. It’s for a good cause and it’s not to beat anybody. It’s just to come out and support.”

Katy Potts, AU Police Department’s Patrol Operation Captain, held back tears after finishing her run. She explained her need to participate in the 5K.

“There was a lot of sacrifice and people just went and did their job for the betterment of America and for the betterment of the community, for their coworkers, for everybody,” said Potts. “You shouldn’t just forget because everything from our history and our past is what got us to today.”

Potts added how commemorating Sept. 11 is important because of the profound impact it had on many people throughout the country. Whether they were alive during the event, like Suzanne Tatum, or were ultimately affected by having loved ones taken away, like Parker Tatum.

“It did show that we do have moments where we can come together, we can all be on the same side. No matter what your other differences are, we had a common goal and common feeling altogether,” Potts said. “It just impacts everybody differently and with that tragedy we did have some triumphs and I think it gives us something to go back and be able to think about when things were bad.”

One of the more seasoned participants included 85-year-old Joyce Hodgens-Hite who is an avid runner and wanted to honor first responders.

“The whole point is honoring people who rescue us, and I know I have needed them in the past a few times,” she said. “I was at my house watching television that morning and I knew when that second [plane] came - it was not a joke. It just seemed to change everybody’s opinion of the whole world, and soon after that I was traveling in England. Even they were affected. They were very much pro-America and they thought it was the most horrible thing. They were very sympathetic.”

Hodgens-Hite said it forced America to have safer flight precautions, “when we put something in air, we’re making sure it’s coming back down safely. That will never happen again.”

Participants of all ages completed the 5K on AU’s Summerville campus. Joyce Hodgens-Hite (far right in red) proudly finished the race on Sept. 10. *(photo by Liz Wright)*

AU’s ROTC also heavily participated in the race by running through with heavy equipment to honor the fallen heroes. One of the ROTC leaders, Lt. Col. Matt Miller, further spoke on the nation's healing and strength.

“We wanna honor what they did on 9/11 and their sacrifices, to help future generations remember, and inspire them to serve our country and to continue to support the families of the fallen,” said Lt. Col. Miller. “Out of tragedy rose fortitude and strength.”

Augusta University’s ROTC program completed the 5K to honor fallen heroes. Lt. Col. Matthew Miller (second to left) leads his team. *(photo by Liz Wright)*

As the last few attendees finished the 5K run, many cheered each other on, hugged, and high-fived celebrating their successful participation in the memorial.

After the run, many participants stayed and enjoyed each other’s company, promising to participate again in next year’s Tunnel of Towers’ race.

More photos from the event can be found below. (photos by Liz Wright)