The U.S. Embassy today commemorated the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 with a ceremony that paid tribute to the 2,977 lives lost and honoured those that have served and continue to serve in the armed forces.
Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Somer Bessire-Briers opened the ceremony, saying on this solemn anniversary, we pause to honour the 2,977 innocent lives lost across New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Bessire-Briers says they remember the courageous heroes who emerged in the face of tragedy, and honour the resilience of the American spirit.
She says nearly 3,000 people were killed that day, thousands more - firefighters, police officers, first responders, and ordinary citizens ran toward danger to save people they had never met.
The Acting Deputy Chief of Mission says after September 11th, people reached across borders, languages, religions, and cultures to say something very simple: We are with you. You are not alone.
She says today they remember those who were lost, honour those who rushed forward to save others, and together as Americans, Fijians, and friends from around the world, affirm that even in our darkest moments, we are never truly alone.
Acting Defense Attaché and U.S. Army Major Clayton Shive says on September 11th 2001, it wasn't only Americans that lost their lives in the attack on the twin towers.
Shive says among the lost were citizens of more than 90 nations-a solemn reminder that it was not an attack on one country alone, but an attack on the shared futures and shared values of free people everywhere.
He also paid tribute to Fijian service members and peacekeepers who made the ultimate sacrifice like Warrant Officer One Niko Komaiasa Ralagi in Syria 2017, and Warrant Officer Two Kolinio Mocevakaca in Iraq in 2019 who made the ultimate sacrifice wearing the blue beret of the United Nations.
Or Corporal Taniela Tolevu Rogoiruwai and Kingsman Ponipate Tagitaginimoce, both born in Nausori, who gave their lives in June 2010 while serving with the 1st Battalion, Duke of Lancasters Regiment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and Seniloli Tabuatausole, a civilian serving with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, who was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in was struck by a car bomb in Benghazi in August 2019.
Major Shive adds they were like so many others, the children of Fiji who chose the path of service, and today we honour them as we do our own.
