On Saturday, September 11, local veterans gathered to remember the 20th Anniversary of the tragic events that took nearly 3,000 lives due to terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, PA. This was also a day tinged with renewed anger and grief in response to the heinous bombing at the Kabul Airport, Afghanistan, on August 26, which claimed a further thirteen lives of our brave military members who on a mission to safeguard civilian lives. 

  Most remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when the events of 9/11 first started.  Everyone agrees that this was one of the worst days in our country’s history, however, it was also a day of national pride and hope that brought together Americans of all backgrounds.

  Nobody needs to remind the men and women of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the meaning of 9/11 and the aftermath. The military was increased with the influx of patriotic men and women who were willing to fight for the freedom we have always enjoyed in the United States. This is, as we all know, the way that Americans respond to a threat to our Republic since even before the American Revolution, where our country was born.

  Much has changed since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, but few American institutions have changed as much as the military. 

  The type of wars that this professional, all-volunteer military—especially the Army—has been fighting are counterinsurgency campaigns, waged in towns and villages, in which junior officers had to assume as much initiative as commanders, and in which all soldiers, even junior enlisted personnel, needed to be as attentive to community relations as to combat.

In respect to Afghanistan, our soldiers were there to find the persons responsible for the heinous attack on our homeland. Our soldiers took up the task of providing safety for the people of Afghanistan until their mission was finished. There were successful campaigns in Afghanistan, but, of course, it came at a price. These brave men and women returned home, some with physical effects and some with psychological trauma but they are heroes all. There are a large number of Veterans deeply upset with what has and is happening in Afghanistan and we all need to reach out and support each other to be sure we share a strong feeling of hurt and yes anger at what has occurred.  All Veterans are affected and dissatisfied with the political indifference but we need to be there for each other.

  The families of those soldiers who were killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan on August 26, while defending the Kabul Airport are in our prayers today. May we all bow our heads and silently say a prayer for these brave military soldiers.  

  The Pentagon has identified these military personnel as:

 • Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, Jackson, Wyo.

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Mo.

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Tex.

• Navy Hospital Corpsman Max Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio

• Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, Calif.

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, of Norco, Calif.

• Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, 31, of Utah

• Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23, of Omaha

• Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tenn.

• Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario, 25, Lawrence, Mass. 

• Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, Logansport, Ind.

• Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, of Roseville, Calif.

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Representative Joseph McKenna offered heartfelt comments on the commemoration of the anniversary of the events of 9/11. He offered a brief talk of pride for the military, gratitude for the bravery of the military mission and he touched also on the display of oneness of our community such as was evident countrywide following 9/11. The attending officials included the Webster Fire Department, Webster Police Department, Veterans Council, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Town and State Government Representatives as well as concerned citizens of Webster and Dudley. 

After the speech delivered by our Veterans Services Officer, Stephen Rogerson, Representative McKenna took the podium a second time to express that he was moved by the words spoken by VFW Commander Rogerson. He shared the thought that it is now 20 years after the attack and the brave soldiers who were taken on August 26, 2021 at the airport in Kabul were only babies during the carnage. It was at this time also, that Representative McKenna announced to the crowd the appointment of VFW Post 654 Commander Rogerson to the position of VFW National Aide-de-Camp to Commander-in-Chief Fritz Mehelcic. This is an rare honor as only one person per State receives this distinction.

The appointment came as a complete surprise to Commander Rogerson who was not aware that the VFW District 8 Commander, Joseph McMahon had even nominated him for the appointment. The Massachusetts State Commander also recommended him for this appointment due to his outstanding service to Post 654 as well as for his commitment to veterans within the State of Massachusetts. Commander Rogerson is a well-known VA accredited Veterans Services Officer in the surrounding area. This is quite a feather in our cap for all of our efforts for the veterans of Webster and Dudley. It is very heartwarming to reach this level on a national scale.

  If you know of a veteran who is in need of assistance, please be sure to refer him/her to a Veteran’s Services Officer such as Stephen Rogerson, Dudley Veteran’s Services Officer 508-949-8010. 

--Stephen Rogerso