The annual 9/11 ceremony was held this morning up at Two Lovers Point, as by virtue of our time zone ahead of the mainland, Guam had the honor of being the first event to reflect on one of the darkest days in American history.

"The Peace Memorial is a symbol of peace for Guam," explained Keven Camacho,  president of the Rotary Club of Northern Guam, "which incorporates icons of 9/11 as a lasting tribute of that day. The Twin Towers, the shape of the Pentagon, and the trees representing Pennsylvania are symbols of the tragedy that changed us forever. The latte stone and dove symbolize resilience and peace, while the location at Two Lovers Point signifies unity and love, transcending all boundaries."

The national day of remembrance featured speakers from the local government, the military and private sector about how we keep the memories of the nearly 3,000  lives lost in New York, Washington and in Pennsylvania alive and forever hold them in our hearts as heroes.

Commander of Joint Task Force – Micronesia, Rear Admiral Joshua Lasky, delivered a moving speech, recalling when he learned of the terrorism attack when he was in Navy SEAL training. "Our commanding officer at the time, a prior enlisted Marine and seasoned SEAL leader, gave us our orders: get back to work, continue training," he stated. "The best thing we could do was build readiness. We would be able to focus on being ready. While we weren't immediately called to go, the horrific events that day would shape the next twenty years.

"That day was another reminder that as a people, this island understands well and this region knows also well the price of freedom is readiness. Whether December 6, 1941 or September 10, 2001, citizens, servicemembers, first responders, doctors, and nurses went to bed not knowing what the morning would bring, but they were ready."

Whether in uniform or plainclothes, all in attendance wore their pride as citizens and grateful humility for the sacrifices. So many represented their colleagues and comrades, as policemen, firefighters, servicemen, federal employees and airline industry staff.

Each of them, whether directly in serving side-by-side or by their shared mission, maintain their solemn pledge to keep their memories alive.

And to ensure this charge persists through the generation, before she's GovGuam's chief executive, before she's the commander in chief of the Guam National Guard, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero is a grandmother, and passes the lasting lessons of 9/11 to her descendants. She told KUAM News, "I tell them, of course, about what we are here in Guam in terms of being a peaceful, loving community, a very generous and welcoming community, and how we need to do everything we can to continue on and that there are outside forces. There's going to be always conflicts and contradictions, but the best way, of course, is to talk it out diplomatically.

"That we as one world need to live together as humanly possible and as peacefully as we can."