SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 – 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 Padua, Italy, for a solemn 25th anniversary commemoration at the Memory and Light memorial.
“Returning to [Padua] 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 Army Col. Vaughn D. Strong Jr., U.S. Army Garrison Italy commander. “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 City, the memorial features a 55-foot glass structure shaped like an open book, its “pages” pointing directly toward New York 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 leaders, 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 and 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 and emergency services, emphasized the depth of that connection.
“We are deeply appreciative of [the local fire department] 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,” he said. “Sharing in this annual remembrance ceremony with our fellow firefighters, police and other emergency responders at the memorial site in [Padua] honors the sacrifice of those who gave their lives attempting to save others.”
As the decades pass, ceremonies at the memorial take on new significance for younger generations of military members and firefighters who were not yet born in 2001.
Army Lt. Col. Jonathan Kuhn, provost marshal and director of garrison emergency services, highlighted how the milestone bridges the 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,” he 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 Italian partners sends a clear message to the local community.
“I hope they see a shared commitment to remembrance, resilience and service,” he said. “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 commemoration 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.”
By Anna Ciccotti
U.S. Army Garrison Italy