Cheyenne Mountain Ceremony Marks 25th Anniversary of 9/11: Honors Sacrifice, Highlights Vigilance, and Marks Genesis of USNORTHCOM

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. - Members of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) joined military leaders, elected officials, and community partners at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station today for a Space Base Delta 1-hosted remembrance ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Hundreds in attendance for the solemn ceremony that included speeches from Gen. Jennie Carignan, Canadian Chief of the Defence Staff; Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM; retired Gen. Ralph E. Eberhardt, who commanded NORAD on 9/11; and Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade.

Gathered beside the installation's 9/11 Memorial, an 8-foot-long, 750-pound steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center towers, attendees honored the 2,977 lives lost and reflected on the pivotal events that fundamentally reshaped continental homeland defense. Donated by the National Homeland Defense Foundation and designed by students from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, the monument honors both the victims of the attacks and the service members who gave their lives in the years that followed.

"Homeland defense is the top priority for both NORAD and USNORTHCOM," said Gen. Guillot. "When we remember September 11, we honor the sacrifice of those lost on that day and the days since by ensuring the command remains steadfast and vigilant while we maintain the watch."

Highlighting the enduring strength of the binational alliance, Gen. Carignan emphasized the joint responsibility shared between the two neighbor nations. "The defense of North America and its approaches is a responsibility shared between Canada and the United States," said Gen. Carignan. "Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, the threats facing our continent have evolved, technology is advancing rapidly, and the security environment is increasingly complex. What has not changed is the commitment and professionalism of the Canadians and Americans serving throughout NORAD. Every day, they train, prepare, and operate together to protect the people of both countries. As we remember the lives lost and all those who responded on that tragic day in 2001, we remain focused on ensuring NORAD continues to evolve and remains ready to defend against threats to North America, now and for many years to come. Together, We Have the Watch."

Reflecting on the immediate aftermath of the attacks, retired Gen. Eberhardt shared historic perspective on leading the command through that fateful morning, underscoring how that day forever altered the defense of North America.

The ceremony highlighted how 9/11 transformed NORAD's operational posture from an outward-focused air defense model to one actively securing the interior skies of the United States and Canada through Operation NOBLE EAGLE. Additionally, the anniversary underscored how the lessons of 9/11 drove the historic stand-up of USNORTHCOM in 2002 to execute homeland defense and coordinate Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA), marking the first time a single military commander has been charged with protecting the U.S. homeland since George Washington.

Leaders recalled that the massive blast doors of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex were sealed on 9/11 for the first time since the height of the Cold War, serving as a stark reminder of the vulnerability felt that day and the unyielding vigilance maintained ever since.

We Remember. We Have the Watch.

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