Monthly Meeting

featuring

Colonel Robert L. Maness

Vice Commander

55th Wing, Offut Air Force Base

speaking on the topic

"September 11, 2001 - A Personal History"

Col Maness' biography

Friday, 2 November 2007 - 1115 - 1300
343rd - Briefing Room

Looking around the room you could have heard a pin drop, all eyes glued to the B-1 Nav as he went through the history of that day through his own eyes.   September 11 will be one of those days in history that we will recall where we were and what we were doing when we first heard the news of the towers, of the Pentagon, and of flight 93.   Col Maness recalled and retold events that transpired as an attack on the United States and how the tragedy influenced how the U.S. military would change its organizational structure... forever.   But the highlight of the talk was how as Americans we have freedoms and despite the attack on our way of life those freedoms are preserved.   Col Maness went on to relate a very poignant example of an individual praying in the chapel in the Pentagon — at the very site where American Airlines Flight 77 struck — demonstrating that uniquely American experiment in freedom we are so privileged to enjoy.   "... I found that remarkable.   It meant for me personally, it just made me remember that's what America is all about..." (Col Maness, 2 Nov 2007)

Colonel Maness is Vice Commander of the 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He is responsible for organizing, administering, equipping, and training six groups and 32 squadrons executing worldwide reconnaissance, electronic attack, command and control, presidential support, and treaty verification directed by the President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, theater commands, major commands, and national intelligence agencies.