Hampton honors NH Global War on Terrorism fallen on 9/11: ‘We’ll always remember’

HAMPTON — The bell at the American Legion Post 35 was tolled 81 times, once for each of the fallen Granite State soldiers in the Global War on Terrorism.

More than 70 friends, family, and community members gathered at the American Legion Post 35 at 69 High St. Monday night to remember the lives lost during the wars following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

Tears were held back, but spirits remained high. They all had one similar goal: To never forget.

“We’ll always remember, we’ll always be proud, we’ll always be prepared, so we may always be free,” said Berkley Bennett, commander of Post 35.

The Hamptons Legion Post 35 is the home of the Global War on Terrorism monument, which has the names engraved of fallen service members from New Hampshire.

Each year, Post 35 holds a ceremony to honor the fallen and, if needed, adds names to the monument.Fortunately, no new names were added this year.

Bennett spoke to those in attendance of this year's ceremony and recalled former President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, reminding everyone their family members or friends did not die in vain.

“It is important to remember that those who are in the military after 9/11 weren’t fighting for a president or a political party,” he said. “They selflessly fought for our country because it was brutally attacked. ‘Our’ as in all of us: Black, white, rich, poor, urban, rural, young, old.”

Gold Star moms grateful for monument honoring sons

Holding back tears during the ceremony was Gold Star mother Nancy Marston, who lost her 31-year-old son William, known as Blake, eight years ago. Around her neck is a gold star pendant with her son’s initials and a trident on the back – a form of memory she always carries with her.

“I’m grateful for the American Legion doing this every year,” she said. “It’s a mixed emotion. It’s a reminder that I lost my son. That’s always hard, but I try to be grateful.”

Blake was a Navy SEAL who died in a parachute training exercise at DeLand Airport, Florida.

Every year since 2015, Marston has attended the Post 35 monument ceremony. But it never gets easier, she said.

“I think the most important factor for most families is that our children are not forgotten,” she said. “There’s a saying, ‘You die twice – they would die once, and they would die again when forgotten.’ We’re keeping them alive through legacy and memory.”

Wearing a pin with a picture of her son’s face, Jean Durgin went on to greet Marston after the ceremony ended.

How many people died in 9/11? Firefighters, passengers and more who died 22 years ago.

The two seemed to have bonded over the past years, finding comfort in each other as Gold Star mothers.Durgin’s son, Russell, was only 23 years old when he died 17 years ago. Part of the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, New York, Russell was killed on June 13, 2006, when his unit took small-arms fire in Korengel, Afghanistan.

His name was engraved on the monument in the first year that it was dedicated, she said.

The idea of the monument, originally dedicated in 2006, came about after two service members with local ties, Army Second Lt. Matthew Coutu and Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel Healy, were killed in action.

Coutu, 23, was killed in Iraq by a sniper outside a Baghdad police station on June 21, 2005. Healy, a Navy SEAL, was killed on June 28, 2005, when his MH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan.

Then-Post 35 Commander Ralph Fatello said he realized New Hampshire needed its own monument to commemorate the soldiers who died in the War on Terror after viewing the Vietnam War memorial during a visit to the nation's capital.

"We wanted to honor these men and women now," he said at the time, "not 10, 20 or 50 years from now. We wanted to honor the fallen today."

Initially, the monument only listed those who died in combat, but now includes those who died by suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder and other service-related injuries.

More: York County officials mark 9/11 anniversary with solemn bell ringing

This is how 'We keep their memory alive'

Among the attendants at this year’s ceremony were Gov. Chris Sununu and Justin Troiano, special assistant to police and projects for U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, who spoke on behalf of the senator. The national anthem was sung by Sarah Hill.

Members from the police and fire departments, Winnacunnet High School’s Marine Corps JROTC and Boy Scouts of America Troop 177 were also present.

Guest speaker James Ball, a veteran who served in Iraq from 2003 to 2006, recalled one of his missions “to target members of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, specifically ones who were smuggling weapons over the Syrian border, fueling the insurgency.”

He shared his story about one of his fallen comrades, Lt. Adams, in hopes that it would carry the memories of his “leadership, bravery and unwavering love for the country.”

“We say their names, tell their story,” Ball said. “We smile for our time together; we cry because we miss them – that’s how we keep their memory alive.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton honors NH fallen in Global War on Terrorism on 9/11