Vigilance, memory stressed at Fort Smith ceremony marking 9-11

Remaining vigilant and remembering why it’s important to remain vigilant were the main messages of those who spoke during a Fort Smith ceremony held Friday morning (Sept. 11) to commemorate the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001.

University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Chancellor Dr. Paul Beran opened the ceremony, held in Breedlove Auditorium on the UAFS campus, by saying he was proud to reinstate the ceremony, and credited Fort Smith City Administrator Dennis Kelly for encouraging the reinstatement.

Beran, speaking to a full auditorium with many UAFS students, said it is important to remember what happened 8 years ago because the tragic event resulted in a different America.

“For many of you (students), you were just children (on 9-11),” Beran said, adding that education, cultural exchange and civil discussion between nations and religions are necessary to curb the hate and misunderstanding that caused 9-11.

Beran also noted the ceremony is a “celebration” of the U.S. as a country that remains strong.

Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker said the ceremony is a reminder that the “world we live in is not safe.” He said the country and its leaders “must always be on guard” against those who want to attack the nation and its principles.

The guest speaker at the event was Asa Hutchinson, the former U.S. Representative for Arkansas’ Third Congressional District between 1997 and 2001. Hutchinson also has served as head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and was the first undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security when the department was created in 2003.

Hutchinson thanked Fort Smith for conducting the ceremony, noting that a “diminishing number” of Arkansas cities are doing so. Like the other speakers, Hutchinson thanked fire, police and other emergency responders for what they do every day to keep the country and their communities safe. Hutchinson also recognized and thanked airline personnel in the crowd.

As the DEA chief on 9-11, Hutchinson told of how government leaders struggled in those first hours and days after the attack to gather intelligence in an effort to prevent another attack. He said most expected an attack within 24 hours after the attack, and would not have believed no attack would occur 8 years later.

However, Hutchinson reminded the Fort Smith crowd that it was 8 years between the first attack on the World Trade Center (large bomb in the underground parking deck in 1993) and the 2001 attack.

“We have to remember, ladies and gentlemen, in the 8 years after 9-11, we are still vulnerable,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson closed his remarks by commenting on the three common questions he receives with respect to 9-11 and national security.

• Why have we not had another attack?
Most of the credit for that is that the country quickly took the attack to overseas terrorist bases and countries that supported terrorism, Hutchinson said.

• What is the country’s greatest vulnerability?
A “forgetful memory,” Hutchinson said, adding that terrorists are willing to wait for years or decades to attack the country.

• What are some lessons learned from 9-11?
Hutchinson said the country must obtain “balance in achieving security.” He said fighting terrorism without violating civil liberties is important. Other lessons cited by Hutchinson were improving partnerships with overseas allies and improving and increasing the use of technology to combat terrorism.

After Hutchinson’s comments, members of the Fort Smith Fire Department rang the “Last Alarm Bell” for the 343 firefighters who died on 9-11 at the World Trade Center in New York. The ceremony ended with a FSFD member playing taps.