Why Alamogordo's 9-11 Events Matter by Chris Edwards

The event matters because Alamogordo refuses to forget.

In a town thousands of miles from Ground Zero, the 9/11 remembrance events here are not just symbolic—they’re personal, rooted in lived experience and local legacy.

They matter because Al Marchand, a beloved Alamogordo resident, died aboard United Airlines Flight 175. 

Because Archie Koenemund, a retired FDNY firefighter who served at Ground Zero and lost his brother to 9/11-related illness, chose Alamogordo as his home and built a memorial parade from his driveway outward.

Because the Otero County Firefighters Association, the Alamogordo Fire and Police Departments, and dozens of volunteers show up year after year to honor not only the fallen—but the still falling.

They matter because the grief of 9/11 didn’t end in New York. It rippled into every corner of the country, including this one. And Alamogordo responded not with silence, but with service.

The restored 1968 Mack fire truck, the bell ceremony, the voices of Denise Merchant and Lenore Whitney, the Patriot Guard Riders—all of it is a testament to how deeply this community understands sacrifice - It’s not performative patriotism. It’s lived remembrance.

And they matter because Alamogordo’s tribute is not just about the past. It’s about teaching the next generation what courage looks like.

During these times of division its about reminding us that unity is possible, even in divided and confusing times. It’s about showing that even in a small desert town, the spirit of 9/11 lives on—not in fear, but in resolve.

That’s why it matters. Because Alamogordo remembers. And remembrance is a form of service.