Airman's father honored at Pentagon Memorial

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  In the morning hours of Sept. 11, 2001, Master Sgt. Jennifer Yamnicky's father, John, boarded American Airlines Flight 77 out of Dulles International Airport.

At 9:43 a.m., his plane was flown into the side of the Pentagon.

This Sept. 11 will be the dedication of the Pentagon Memorial for the 184 people who lost their lives here during the terrorist attack seven years ago.

"It makes me feel good to see the memorial here so people will always remember what happened," said Sergeant Yamnicky, an Air National Guardsman stationed at nearby Andrews Air Force Base, Md. "The memorial is done very respectfully with the benches and reflecting pools so anyone can come here and take note of all the people, from the youngest to the oldest, who lost their lives."

The oldest, as it turns out, was John Yamnicky, a former test pilot and Naval aviator. It was at his urging 20 years ago that Sergeant Yamnicky joined the Air Force.

"I came home one day and told him I was thinking about joining the service. He told me the Air Force takes really good care of its people, and he thought I'd do well," Sergeant Yamnicky said.

Now Sergeant Yamnicky is now in charge of plans and scheduling for the District of Columbia Air National Guard's 113th Maintenance Operations Flight. Her daily tasks ensure the 113th Fighter Wing's F-16 Fighting Falcons get the regular care they need to fly, duties she proudly performed while deployed to Southwest Asia at the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I felt like I was in my element while I was there. We were helping bring justice for all those people who lost their lives," Sergeant Yamnicky said. "I got to be part of something bigger than myself, and I feel like we really made a difference there. It's certainly one of the proudest moments of my career."

The Yamnicky family has bred and raised horses for more than 40 years. For the last seven, she's run the business on a little stretch of land called Remembrance Farm in honor of her father. As an animal lover, she used to sponsor rescue efforts for pets, but now is just down to her 19 horses, six dogs and four cats.

"We used to have kids come out and help us all the time with the animals," Sergeant Yamnicky said. "Dad would have them walking the dogs or brushing the horses. It's been hard running the farm with him gone."

To cope, Sergeant Yamnicky said she throws herself into her work and helping others.

"I try to make a difference in people's lives," she said. "I go to church with my mom, I volunteer a lot. Really if I can make one person smile a day, that's enough for me.

"People say I'm a lot like my dad, and that makes me feel good," Sergeant Yamnicky said. "I do my best to stay busy, but every day I think about what I can do to make him proud of me."

Sergeant Yamnicky and others who lost family that day were treated to a private viewing of the Pentagon Memorial Sept. 7. The memorial opens to the public at 7 p.m. Sept. 11.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page