Cpl./Detective Bryan Akers, Prince George’s County Police Dept. Volunteer Chief Jonathan Howard, Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Michael Clark, Career Fire fighter /Medic

From Sept 11, 2001 To The Present, First Responders Continue To Rise And Be Counted

By Raoul Dennis // Photography By Raoul Dennis & Amir Stoudamire

“There were only two F-16s in the air who were given the responsibility to make certain that Flight 93 didn’t make it to DC and do God only knows what. They were the only two planes in the air and they were sent to find Flight 93 and stop it. They had no missiles, no ability to shoot the plane down. They made the decision that one of them would hit the tail and the other would hit the cockpit. That’s what 9/11 was about. That kind of heroism,” explained Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable President and CEO Jim Estepp of the situation of the two pilots of the 113th Wing DC Air National Guard.

“They made the decision that if necessary, they would take out any aircraft that was out of order near the White House,” Estepp said of combat pilot Heather Penney and Commander Marc Sasseville.

Prince George’s County Councilmember Dannielle Glaros. PHOTO AMIR STOUDAMIRE // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA

John “Zeek” Teletchea, president of the FOP Lodge 89

Although he was referencing information from the new book, “The Only Plane In The Sky,” Sasseville, who is now a Lt. General, is more than a part of the history that author Garrett M. Graff (hardcover, 483 pages) references in the book, he is a former participating member of the Roundtable (when he was stationed in the Washington DC area).

“We all have our memories of that day,” the Roundtable president said at the Sept. 11 meeting which was held at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89 in Upper Marlboro. The setting befit the tone that engulfed the entire nation in recognition of the 18th anniversary of the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor in 1941.

The Roundtable awarded first responders who’ve done extraordinary work in the community. The Roundtable symbolically honored all 9/11 heroes and first responders through the effort at the meeting (click here to see more photos).

“Although you don’t duplicate a 9/11 every day, thank God, what they do in their everyday work is reflective of what we saw then,” Estepp said as he presented the awards to Cpl./Detective Bryan Akers, Prince George’s County Police Dept. Volunteer Chief Jonathan Howard, Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Michael Clark, Career Fire fighter /Medic.

Another honorable recognition of Appreciation and Thanks was given to exiting Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Chief Benjamin Barksdale. Barksdale is retiring from the department capping a nearly 40 year career in firefighting. He’d referred to his career as a firefighter as “a childhood dream.”

He was given the Distinguished Public Service Award.

“It has been great to be part of this alliance,” Barksdale said. “This means a lot – especially on a day like today,” Barksdale said receiving the award on Sept. 11. “Eighteen years ago today, I was at the Pentagon. It was quite the day and this will certainly add to that memory.”

Barksdale will be replaced by Chief Deputy Tiffany D. Green, who will be the department’s first female chief.

Maryland Lt. Gov. Rutherford Boyd and Prince George’s County Council member Dannielle Glaros made presentations at the meeting.

Council member Glaros discussed the Zoning Rewrite Plan, an important process that allows jurisdictions to adapt zoning regulations and structures to fit the needs of a growing population and changing times. The first two phases of the rewrite have been completed over recent years, and now Glaros announced the launch of the last step.

“Some time over the next few weeks, if you are resident or own property in the county, you will receive a mailing of about 4 -6 pages talking about the final phase of the rewrite. I encourage all of you to participate in that process.”

Boyd’s remarks reminded guests that the anniversary truly marked a “Pearl Harbor” event of our generation while noting that there is a new generation of Americans alive today that were not yet born when the World Trade towers were hit in New York in 2001.

The 9/11 Memorial at the lodge was first built in 2008 but has been developed further in the years since.

The memorial arena now includes a monument to Sgt. Robert Hernandez who was killed in Iraq in 2006. He served as a corporal with the Prince George’s County Police Department. Three vertical stones include the names of all county police officers killed in the line of duty dating back to 1937. Another monument has been erected to honor the memory of canine officers killed in the line of duty.

An honor walkway with the names of deceased loved ones in the department is also part of the long term vision for the memorial.

John “Zeek” Teletchea, president of the FOP Lodge 89, was pleased to host the Roundtable on such a significant day.

“The Roundtable is so much more than business,” Teletchea says. “It’s more about their involvement with the community and bridging gaps and intertwining every piece of our community together –- that’s what they do. To have them here on this day and to have the support of our business community and the citizens of Prince George’s County makes us more powerful and a safer community. We are ineffective without them. It speaks [volumes] that they felt welcome here with us today [and] that they came to our house to be with us. As long as we are all talking, we are great. We are going places.”