Memory and Light: USAG Italy readies to mark 25 years since 9/11
VICENZA, Italy — A quarter of a century after the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, U.S. Army Garrison Italy Soldiers, military police and firefighters will gather alongside local Italian officials in Padova for a solemn 25th‑anniversary commemoration at Memoria e Luce, the Memory and Light monument.
“Returning to Padova for this milestone 25th‑anniversary observance will allow us to pay tribute to the lives lost and honor the enduring strength of our alliance,” said Col. Vaughn D. Strong Jr., commander of U.S. Army Garrison Italy. “Our Soldiers and firemen look forward to standing together with our Italian partners to ensure the legacy of that day is never forgotten.”
Designed by Daniel Libeskind, the world‑renowned architect behind the Ground Zero master plan in New York, the monument features a 17‑meter glass structure shaped like an open book, its “pages” pointing directly toward Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Enclosed within the glass is a 19‑foot twisted steel beam recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, one of Europe’s most poignant physical ties to the site.
For emergency leadership, the anniversary underscores the shared values that bind American and Italian first responders.
“Having this piece of Ground Zero right here in Veneto, just down the road from where we serve at Caserma Ederle and Del Din, is profoundly meaningful,” said Luca Giaretta, deputy fire chief for USAG Italy Fire & Emergency Services. “It serves as a physical touchstone connecting our local Italian community with our American military colleagues, reminding us why our daily partnership and joint readiness matter so much.”
Harold R. Persons, fire chief for USAG Italy Fire & Emergency Services, emphasized the depth of that connection. “We are deeply appreciative of Comando Provinciale dei Vigili del Fuoco di Padova for their continuous efforts to memorialize and show their respect for not only the 343 firefighters, but all 412 emergency workers and the 2,753 civilians who lost their lives in the horrific attack at the World Trade Center,” Persons said. “Sharing in this annual remembrance ceremony with our fellow firefighters, police and other emergency responders at the memorial site in Padova honors the sacrifice of those who gave their lives attempting to save others.”
As the decades pass, ceremonies at Memoria e Luce take on new significance for younger generations of military members and firefighters who were not yet born in 2001.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Kuhn, provost marshal and director of Emergency Services, highlighted how the milestone bridges past and future for today’s service members.
“Marking 25 years at the 9/11 monument reminds today’s military police Soldiers and first responders that our mission is rooted in sacrifice, vigilance and service to something larger than ourselves,” Kuhn said. “For those serving now, it is both a tribute to those who answered the call after 9/11 and a renewed commitment to protecting our communities with professionalism, discipline and readiness.”
Kuhn added that standing side by side with host‑nation partners sends a clear message to the local community. “I hope they see a shared commitment to remembrance, resilience and service. American and Italian crews standing side by side at the monument sends a simple message: tragedy can cross borders, but so can solidarity, partnership and the duty to stand together in its aftermath.”
Ultimately, the 25th‑anniversary gathering ensures that the standard set on 9/11 endures. As Kuhn noted, “Ceremonies like this help make sure 9/11 is not just something younger firefighters read about, but something they feel connected to as part of their professional identity. They reinforce that duty, sacrifice and service to others are not abstract ideals, they are the standard we inherit and the one we are responsible for carrying forward.
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