Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jerine Orsak | 150312-N-QN361-003 PEARL HARBOR (March 12, 2015) Monica L. Keotters, sister of the...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Vanessa David U.S. PACOM Joint Intelligence Operations Center
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — Family and service members of Joint Intelligence Operations Center (JIOC), U.S. Pacific Command, gathered at the U.S. Pacific Fleet complex March 12 for a memorial service to honor the life and sacrifice of a fallen Marine.
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Allan Borchers was killed March 12, 1990, while on sentry duty at the Makalapa compound gate. The gate was named in his honor Nov. 6, 1990.
Today’s remembrance ceremony was the first in 25 years, said Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Clifford Vinson.
“The importance of this memorial hit me when I realized that this is the first time our command has conducted a remembrance ceremony for the Borchers family,” said Vinson. “As a Marine, you always remember and take care of your own.”
Service members and family came together to remember Borchers with a poster-size photo of him, adorned with three leis, each representing the Marine Corps values - honor, courage and commitment.
In the opening remarks of the ceremony, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Errin Avila said, “Before you is a picture of a brave, young Marine who sacrificed his life to guard this very base that we are all a part of.”
“Most people don’t know and will never understand, but the most outstanding custom in the Marine Corps is simply being a Marine. All that it implies is exactly what Lance Cpl. Borchers embodied: a Marine to all, a brother, a son and a reason. A reason to mourn, to cry tears of joy and to always know Lance Cpl. Borchers will never be forgotten.”
Borchers was born Dec. 22, 1968, in Sioux City, Iowa, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps April 18, 1988.
“He was the model of a Marine even before he became one,” said Brian Borchers, Jeffrey’s brother. “He was a protector. He was my best friend. He always wanted to help and would give you the shirt off his back.”
Many of the service members in attendance who never met Borchers said the ceremony touched their hearts.
“It was a great experience for the Marine Element to participate and bring joy to a family that experienced a tragic loss, and to honor a fallen warrior and family member,” said Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Rueben Breaux.
Monica L. Keotters, Borchers’s sister, felt the sentiment of the service reached the family’s hearts.
“Knowing that someone heard of his story and wanted to honor him is touching,” said Koetters. “Knowing that so many people who never knew him cared enough for someone they didn’t know personally and keeping his memory alive is heartfelt because he is always in our hearts. Words can’t even describe the feeling of watching the ceremony. I’m not sure if you’ll ever know how much this means to us.”
Because of health reasons, Borchers’s mother, Jan Borchers, was unable to be present for the service. In her absence, she sent a letter to be read.
“I want to thank all who have come to pay respect and honor the 25th anniversary of Borchers Gate,” Jan wrote. “Jeff was a wonderful son, a proud Marine, a great friend to many and paid the ultimate price for his country. When you pass Borchers Gate, I hope it may give you comfort in knowing that my family and I are thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers.”
After Monica read her mother’s speech, the ceremony drew to a close.
“As you are looking down on this fellowship of people honoring you, continue to be proud, to keep your presence shining down, but don’t continue your watch for you have been officially relieved,” recited Avila in conclusion. “We have assumed all duties and responsibilities. Rest in peace, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Allan Borchers.”
Borchers is survived by his mother Jan Borchers, his brother Brian, and two sisters, Monica and Kimberly, all of Sioux City, Iowa.
| Date Taken: | 03.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.16.2015 19:38 |
| Story ID: | 157150 |
| Location: | PEARL HARBOR, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 1,772 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, PACOM JIOC honors fallen Marine, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT