The 15th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, served as a time when Americans honored the memory of more than 3,000 people who lost their lives when extremists hijacked four passenger airliners in a coordinated attack against the United States.

This number does not represent the rescue workers who died that day, nor does it include those who have lost their lives in the following war on terrorism.

American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center Towers and American Flight 77 flew into the Pentagon. United Flight 93 went down in Pennsylvania after the aircraft's passengers overpowered the terrorists, preventing them from crashing into their intended target.

The date holds a distinct meaning for hundreds of Sailors of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), currently launching strikes in support of Operation Inherent Resolve while deployed in the Arabian Gulf.

"Like many of you, I remember where I was on September 11, 2001, and I remember the days, weeks, months and years that followed," said Capt. Paul C. Spedero Jr., commanding officer of aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike), in his address during the memorial held in the ship's fo'c'sle. "Fifteen years later I find myself still part of the greatest team in history fighting against the same reprehensible and barbaric ideology of hatred."

Following the attacks, America entered a state of alert and many Americans enlisted while those already serving provided support to the affected areas as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In the years since, many Sailors have found themselves deployed time and time again to wage war against terrorism around the world.

"Throughout the last 15 years, the name and location of our enemy has changed," Spedero said. "So, too, has the resolve and commitment of the largest coalition of nations ever assembled. We serve now as a part of a coalition united in striking and destroying ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), denying them safe haven, and disrupting their ability to project and inspire their hatred through their cowardly acts of violence and oppression."

"Whether it is best described as terrorism, extremism, or radicalism is irrelevant, for I choose to define what it is we are fighting for," added Spedero. "We fight for freedom in the United States and also to instill security and stability throughout the world."

Sailors who served during that time remember the attacks vividly, especially those with loved ones in the affected areas.

"The day of the attack I was on board Ike in Air Department," said Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Mark Torres, from Washington Heights, New York. "We actually watched the live feed from the mess decks in the barge while we were in the yards. Directly after that happened I put my hands up and volunteered to go out on the next carrier pulling out, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). It makes it more worthwhile being out here -- knowing that we're out here making a difference in these peoples' lives, and this region, due to the fact of what happened to us 15 years ago today."

Many junior Sailors were very young at the time of the attack, but even then the significance of the event was not lost on them.

"I was in fifth grade," said Logistics Specialist Seaman Andrew Lopez, assigned to Ike. "I remember my teacher got teary-eyed and locked all the doors. We didn't really know what was going on. During a TV interview the next day with one of the doctors who helped as a first responder, I saw my father cry, and that really affected me. As a kid, seeing the man I looked up to that upset was a big deal."

Even to those younger Sailors, 9/11 serves to symbolize the beginning of an ideological war they still wage today.

"I've heard stories of how a lot of people went to the recruiters after 9/11 to see if they could make a difference," Lopez said. "That's one of the reasons I enlisted -- to serve my country. I really feel we're out here for a reason. We're trying to make the world a safer place. There is no reason you should try to make a statement by killing thousands of innocent people. Somebody has to stop them, and so we're out here to make a statement of our own."

Ike CSG is deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

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