Fort Leavenworth Chapel service marks 9/11 anniversary with hymns, prayers

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas - About 50 community members gathered to commemorate the events that changed the nation 25 years ago with hymns, prayers and scripture readingsduring a memorial and remembrance worship service Sept. 11, 2026, at Memorial Chapel at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Combined Arms Command Chaplain (Col.) Seth George provided reflection, reminding service attendees of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.

"At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 111 was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 was flown into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. At 9:37 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77 was flown and crashed into Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. At 10:07 a.m., United Airlines Flight 93 was crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and as you remember, the passengers and crew had fought those hijackers to prevent that plane from crashing into Washington, D.C."

George said the phrase "never forget" is most appropriate.

"The truth is none of us can forget. We can't forget where we were. We can't forget what we were doing and how we felt. It's one of the signature experiences of our generation. And I never cease to be amazed when I hear the stories, when I ask 'What were you doing on 9/11? And where were you?' Some of the people that are in this room have amazing and remarkable stories… Each of you got the word in various ways and realized that life was changing rapidly."

George recounted the story of a port authority police officer who was buried, but survived, when the towers collapsed that day. He said the officer's response to being asked what happened during that time was that he witnessed a lot of love.

"In all that darkness, there was a lot of love. I want people to understand that on 9/11, the darkest day in U.S. history, there was a lot of good that day, and there was a lot of light," George said. "Since 9/11, we have all seen, experienced and shared a lot of love - a lifetime of it. Maybe we've had too much all at once, but we've been surrounded by people who were appalled by what happened on 9/11. … We were around people who refused to let fear take over. And we knew that that evil that perpetrated our country and our countrymen had to be answered. Fear would not be an option. It would not change our resolve; it would not change the way in which we determined to craft our lives, to build our lives and to live our lives with purpose."

George said evil does not understand the resolve of people who are driven and transformed by love. He said the events of 9/11 may have taken the last thread of innocence from the country, and many people have suffered hardships and tragedy, but God has used those sacrifices so that freedom and hope can be passed to the next generation.

"As we continue with this simple service of reflection, with some scripture and then some prayer, I hope that our prayers here will be an appropriate commemoration of those who loved this country to their last measure. I don't believe they fell in vain. I don't believe their sacrifice was in vain," he said. "I hope that as we pray for the families, those who lost loved ones, those who sacrificed in many ways, some of you here as well, that the Lord would sustain you for the next coming years."

George said the ongoing mission is being accomplished by those who love deeply and have the courage to drive out fear.

"9/11 will not be forgotten. The experiences will fade," he said. "But it's the next generation who embraces the love that was shared on 9/11 that will prepare them and equip them for how God will establish them and call them in the future."

Chaplains and a religious affairs NCO provided scripture readings from 2 Thessalonians 2:7, Psalms 46, Psalm 91:1-6 and Isaiah 40:28-3; service participants sang hymns, including "How Firm a Foundation" and "O Beautiful for Spacious Skies;" and prayers were said for the fallen, their families and the deployed.

The service concluded with the playing of "Amazing Grace," which began loudly in the sanctuary and faded as the bagpiper continued to play as he exited the chapel.