Baumholder Formations Rally for Annual 9/11 Remembrance Run
SMITH BARRACKS, Germany — Before sunrise on Sept. 11, Soldiers, families, and allied servicemembers made their way quietly through the morning chill to Minnick Field for the 16th Sustainment Brigade’s annual 9/11 memorial run.
Leaders opened the event by urging participants to reflect not only on the attacks 25 years ago but also on the legacy of service that followed. Maj. Mike Davis, the brigade chaplain, delivered an invocation focused on unity and purpose. “Together we gather as one team, one organization, to honor and remember those lives impacted,” Davis said.
Across the world, Sept. 11 remains a day of remembrance, honoring the lives lost and acknowledging the attacks that reshaped global security. This year’s run included units from across Baumholder, including the newly arrived 10th Special Forces Group, highlighting the installation’s expanding footprint.
More than 750 personnel from the Baumholder Military Community participated, joined by partner nation servicemembers from Germany and Italy. Each battalion represented unique capabilities, underscoring Baumholder’s growth into a theater-wide sustainment hub.
Once facing reductions during previous drawdowns, Baumholder has seen significant expansion in recent years. The large formation on Minnick Field was among the installation’s most substantial gatherings in decades, a visible sign of renewed operational reach.
The attacks on Sept. 11 dealt a devastating blow to the United States, but they also strengthened allied resolve. NATO’s invocation of Article 5—its first and only use—marked a collective commitment to defense. German forces deployed alongside Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq, facing hardship, danger, and in some cases, loss. “Peace is preserved by those who decide to protect it,” said Col. Christopher Richardson, commander of the 16th Sustainment Brigade. He reminded Soldiers that their work today remains linked to those who served before them.
Richardson also acknowledged the generations who stepped forward in the aftermath of the attacks. “In the face of uncertainty, ordinary servicemembers raised their right hand to serve something greater than themselves,” he said. Many in formation—both those who enlisted long after 9/11 and those who served during the early years of the Global War on Terror—felt the weight of that legacy.
The memorial run looped units across Baumholder, passing the installation’s memorial site honoring servicemembers killed in action, including those who died during the Global War on Terror. Cadence calling and guidon relays added esprit de corps as the brigade moved in formation, symbolizing its commitment to carrying the Army’s legacy forward.
“We run for those who no longer can,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Ingram before the start. “Push yourself. Dig deep when you feel a little pain.”
For servicemembers stationed abroad, ensuring that the motto “We Will Never Forget” remains more than words is part of daily service. For some, memories of that day remain vivid; for others too young to remember, shared stories build the understanding needed to carry the legacy forward. The event emphasized both remembrance and a commitment to preventing similar tragedies through continued service.
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