KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – As a young soldier passes the entrance, he places two fingers to his lips and touches two of the epitaphs which comprise the Memorial Hall at SOTF-South. He pauses just long enough to spend a quiet moment with his fallen brothers-in-arms, then moves on, keeping his emotions contained. In this moment, he is remembering and honoring, in his own personal way, two dear friends he lost this past year in Afghanistan.
The same emotion enveloped the courtyard outside the hall as over 80 deployed service members and civilians gathered early Monday morning, May 27, for Camp Brown’s intimate Memorial Day ceremony to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. It was a time to come together in shared sorrow and remembrance - a time to reflect on the friends they lost.
“Today we honor the heroes who died in pursuit of our freedom,” said SOTF-South Commander Lt. Col. Martin J. Schmidt. “Our nation will never overcome the fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, teammates and friends who’ve paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”
Those present that morning paid tribute to their friends - the fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines assigned to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan who gave their lives while serving their country this past year.
“Memorial Day is about remembering,” said Chap. Charlie Shields. “I think about the number of wives that have been widowed, the number of children that have been orphaned, and the number of mothers who have been informed that their sons and daughters have died for their country.”
Captain Brett Stroney narrated the service and read each of the 42 names of the fallen as service members stood at attention. A bell tolled after the last name from each branch was spoken. After the final bell tolled, seven soldiers executed a 21-gun salute, followed by the playing of “Taps.”
Chaplain Shields spoke comforting words to those who carry on the legacy of those remembered.
“As long as their memory lives in your and my hearts and minds, and as long as we take time to speak about them, and remind others of them, and tell of their sacrifice, their warrior spirit, their actions in training and combat, their character in life, they will live on,” said Chap. Shields.
Memorial Day is a day full of memories, as colorful and individual as the fallen heroes in which they embody. The central message of the intimate ceremony at Camp Brown and the message of Memorial Day is carried in every grieving heart and engraved in each marble epitaph lining SOTF-South’s Memorial Hall: “We Will Always Remember.”
| Date Taken: |
05.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: |
05.31.2013 12:13 |
| Story ID: |
107859 |
| Location: |
KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
1,367 |
| Downloads: |
1 |
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