U.S. Army Soldiers commemorate 25 years since 9/11 at Padova ceremony

PADOVA, Italy -Sunlight parted cloudy skies as Soldiers and firefighters from U.S. Army Garrison Italy joined Italian first responders beside a twisted steel beam from the World Trade Center - more than four thousand miles from where it fell 25 years ago.

Soldiers joined hundreds of Italians at the Memoria e Luce (Memory and Light) monument to honor the fallen. Among them was Sgt. Payton Kimball, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 529th Military Police Company color guard. Born after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Kimball understands how the attacks changed a world and the weight of representing America at the Italian ceremony.

"This is an honor," Kimball said. "9/11 was a terrible event that happened. Both the nation and the world were affected by it. The fact we are still remembering it 25 years later shows how important it was in our history."

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Islamic terrorists flew planes into the twin towers and the Pentagon. In Pennsylvania, passengers on United 93 fought hijackers resulting in that airliner crashing into a field. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks.

The monument, unique to Italy, is a 56-foot glass structure that architect Daniel Libeskind designed to appear like an open book facing Lower Manhattan. The centerpiece is the 20- foot steel beam savaged from the South World Trade Center.

For veterans of the Global War on Terror, Col. Vaughn Strong, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Italy, Padova's ceremony served as a reminder of the day that changed the United States and its allies. Strong explained how he felt during his speech to the hundreds of people gathered nearby.

"This monument is a powerful symbol of the friendship between our countries," Strong said. "Our friendship is also reflected in the sacrifice of Corporal Matteo Miotto, a member of the Italian Alpini who was killed in Afghanistan. We honor him each day, as our Soldiers serve at a post in nearby Longare that is named for him."

Caserma Miotto is now home to U.S. Army Soldiers from the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade. It's the first Italian base named for service member who died in a modern conflict.

Having this monument in Padova also highlights the strength of the relationship between America and Italy, Strong said. The steel beam was gifted to the site by the U.S. government to honor the ties between the two nations and the hundreds of international victims who perished in the attacks.

Firefighters placed two laurel wreaths at the monument's base - one from the City of Padova and another from the U.S. Army. In a moment of solidarity, American Soldiers and Italian first responders saluted to honor the fallen as "Il Silenzio," the Italian military bugle call, echoed across the plaza, signaling a pledge to never forget.

Earlier, in Vicenza, Soldiers and civilians took part in a "Solidarity Run." U.S. Army officers also took part in several local events near Vicenza. Commemorations for 9/11 also took part at Camp Darby, near Pisa, Italy.