'They are all heroes': 9/11 remembered at memorial

In November 2001, a group of New Mexicans visited New York City to show support to 9/11 victims and first responders.

Former New York Fire Department Deputy Chief Inspector Archie Koenemund escorted them around New York City. He was later presented with an American flag made with hand prints from High Rolls-Mountain Park Elementary students. 

On Wednesday, Koenemund returned that glag to High Rolls/Mountain Park Elementary School.

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"As a community, we are very proud of those kids," said Angela Cadwallader, Vice President of Alamogordo Public Schools Board of Education.

The guest speaker this year was Alamogordo Police Chief Brian Peete who was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base at the time. He told Al Marchand's story as well as his own.

Al Marchand was working as a flight attendant on United flight 175 when it crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center.

He was a retired lieutenant from the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety.

"Today, we honor him, his family Rebecca and Josh, all those who knew and loved him. We honor the victims, first responders, civilians, volunteers and family members of those who lost their lives that day. They are all heroes – sworn and civilian," Peete said.

Sept. 11 drew Peete to Alamogordo from his previous home in Chicago.

Peete was stationed on Holloman Air Force Base as a sortie generation flight commander for the 8th Fighter Squadron, "The Black Sheep" at the time.

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"We were working on the daily flying schedule for the F-118A Stealth Fighter when the first plane hit. I was told by some of the sergeants that a plane had hit the World Trade Center," Peete said. "Like many company-grade officers, I was confused. Was it a propeller plane? A Cessna? How could somebody fly into a building that big?"

Peete's mind was on human or mechanical error at the time. 

"I didn't consider that this was a vicious attack committed by cowards," Peete said. 

A few minutes later, he was told about the second plane.

"That's when it clicked. Holloman went into the highest threat condition and the line to get onto base stretched back for over a mile," Peete said. "We began prepping, assured the Black Sheep would be mobilizing soon to exact retribution on whoever did this."

However, Peete did not end up going to war with the 8th Fighter Squadron, rather he went as a special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

In 2004, his team conducted more than 150 counter-espionage, counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence and force protection missions in Afghanistan, Peete said.

"We looked for high-value targets, weapons and information that would lead to the capture and neutralization of al-Qaeda and the Taliban," Peete said.

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on twitter at @nicmaxreporter.