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By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alec Kramer
BETHESDA, Md. - Service members, health care professionals, and staff gathered at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Bethesda and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Sept. 11 to observe the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks during a solemn commemoration ceremony.
The event brought together command leadership, National Capital Region chief petty officer selectees, first responders, and staff to reflect on the nearly 3,000 lives lost 25 years ago and honor the enduring legacy of service, resilience, and medical readiness that defined the military's response in the years following.
“Today marks 25 years since one of the darkest days in American history,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Lorenzo Watts, a chief petty officer selectee who served as the ceremony’s master of ceremonies. “Whether you were serving, were inspired to serve afterward, or simply remember where you were that day, the events of 9/11 are forever etched in our memories. It is important that we continue to remember and honor those affected, as we will never forget.”
The ceremony featured a traditional tolling of the bell, marking the exact timeline of the four hijacked flights and the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, honoring both the victims and the 441 first responders who died in the line of duty.
During the invocation, Navy chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Jackson highlighted the unique role NMRTC Bethesda and Walter Reed have played in the quarter-century following the attacks, caring for generation after generation of wounded service members.
“Here at Walter Reed, we remember especially those who have borne the visible and invisible wounds of war in the years since that day,” Jackson prayed. “Comfort those who still grieve, bring healing to those who continue to suffer, and strengthen all who care for them.”
Guest speaker John Woodall, a retired fire captain who served as a liaison and relief worker at ground zero in New York City shortly after the attacks, shared personal reflections on the bravery of fallen first responders and his deep connection to the Walter Reed community.
Woodall recalled the selflessness of Fire Department of New York (FDNY) heroes like Capt. Patrick “Patty” Brown, who refused to evacuate the North Tower while aiding injured civilians, and reflected on his frequent visits to Bethesda over the last two decades to support wounded warriors and their families.
“It’s not about us,” Woodall told the audience. “It’s about what you, because of the tragedy, at Walter Reed have done for us.”
For the personnel stationed at NMRTC Bethesda, the anniversary serves as a stark reminder of Navy Medicine’s core mission: maintaining maximum force medical readiness and providing world-class care to those who step into harm's way.
As the ceremony concluded, attendees were encouraged to carry the lessons of unity and selfless service forward.
“As we move forward into the future, let us continue to honor the legacy of the lives lost and the deep unity we experienced following the tragedy,” Watts said.
NMRTC Bethesda’s mission is to maximize warfighter performance through optimized medical readiness tailored to operational requirements; enhance the readiness of the medical force to sustain expeditionary medical capability; and train and develop the Navy Medicine Force.
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