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WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2001 – Military District of Washington engineers and Arlington County firefighters scheduled to leave were honored today in a short ceremony at the Pentagon for their relief efforts since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the building.
Army Maj. Gen. James T. Jackson, commanding general of the Military District of Washington, personally thanked the engineers, based out of Fort Belvoir, Va., and the civilian firefighters for a job well done. "I would like to offer up my thanks also on behalf of all of DoD workers," he said. In appreciation, he presented the engineers and firefighters with commanders coins. "Over the last 10 days, I have had the chance to see you all work," Jackson said, reflecting back over the disaster relief efforts since the attack. "You truly are the foundation upon which our country will continue to stand." The Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon, Jackson said, affected family members, but it extended to all Americans. "It was so close to all of us," he said. Jackson acknowledged the outpouring of support between civilian and federal agencies. "The kinship between the people who work in DoD and the people who work in all the (other participating agencies) is tremendous," he said. "I think it is a great relationship." In closing, Jackson, cautioned the engineers and firefighters that the mission was not over. "We still have got work to do," he said. "Again, if you listened to our president, this may be a long fight, and so the job is not done yet." (Staff Sgt. Michele Hammonds is assigned to the Army Reserve 214th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Fort Belvoir, Va.)
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