Photo By Capt. William Duvall | Early morning, 0500 Memorial Day, May 28, 2018, members of the 678th ADA BDE, South...... read more read more
In the early morning, members of the 678th ADA Brigade were participating in a Hero workout of the day (WOD), “The Murph.” The event is broken down into four back breaking tasks that only the strong can endure; one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats and conclude with a one-mile run.
Lt. Michael Murphy, United States Navy, was known to his friends as "Murph", and he was known as "The Protector" in his high school years. In 8th grade, he protected a child with special needs who was being shoved into a locker by a group of boys, this was the only time the principal of the school had called his parents, they couldn't have been prouder. Murphy was killed on June 28, 2005 after he left his cover position and went to a clearing away from the mountains, exposing himself to a hail of gunfire in order to get a clear signal to contact headquarters for relaying the dire situation and requesting immediate support for his team. He dropped the satellite phone after being shot multiple times but picked the phone back up and finished the call. While being shot, he signed off saying- "Thank You", then continued fighting from his exposed position until he died from his wounds.
After the Hero WOD, the unit held a Memorial Day service led by Ltc. Tim Cassel, Deputy Commander, 678th ADA BDE. Chaplain (Maj.) Kevin Thompson, BDE Chaplain led in the invocation and benediction.
During his honoring speech, Cassel acknowledged excerpts from the Memorial Monument dedication in Washington, D.C., while adding his own words and passion about his fallen brothers and sisters.
“The speech is fitting (Memorial Monument) because of such a high sacrifice that was made and paid for by our brothers and sisters in arms that fought the oppression of the enemy in WWII and I have modified it to fit your service and the service of our nations fallen in current times,” reflected Cassel on today’s mission. “Be aware of your surroundings and take caution to prevent the needless loss of life and moreover, pay special attention to details in the safety of all that you do. To ensure that you return to work every day, to continue the mission. I am honored to wear this uniform and to serve with you all on a day so rich with meaning. I ask that each of you pause for a moment of silence to pay tribute this day and always to our nations fallen.”
During this moment of silence, Taps was played. The playing of Taps is a military tradition played at dusk, flag ceremonies and at military funerals by the U.S. armed forces.
Cassel reminded us of the history of Memorial Day. “Involvement is exactly how Memorial Day began. Just after the Civil War ended, a group of Southern women visited a cemetery in Columbus Mississippi, to decorate the graves of the sons and fathers who did serving in the Confederacy. When they were done, they saw that nearby Union graves were unattended, undecorated and forgotten. These ladies could not bring themselves to ignore the graves of the northern fallen men. Carefully they decorated Union graves until there was nothing to distinguish them from those of the Confederates. A New York Tribune correspondent witnessed the act and reported it. The story was picked up in papers throughout the nation, inspiring Gen. John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Union Veterans organization, to direct in 1868, that May 30 be a day “for decorating the graves of the comrades that died in the defense of their country and whose bodies now lie in almost every city village or church yard in the land.”
Logan picked May due to the abundance of flowers at that time of year. Each one a symbol of renewal and life’s beauty originally called Decorations Day. Memorial Day was formally established in 1882 a day of remembrance for those that have died in our nation’s service.
Today the ceremony is honoring those men and women who are serving and expressed a nation’s gratitude to those brave patriots who gave their full measure so that we may live in freedom.
The 678th ADA BDE soldiers and the 5 – 7 ADA BN, were present during this historic event while preparing for Saber Strike 18, Poland.
“Make a personal commitment to uphold the Army values, the warrior ethos, and commit to do two things on Memorial Day. Remember the grave sites of the fallen and give thanks, reach out and shake the hand of a living hero,” Cassel challenged his troops. “Tell each veteran you meet, tell each other that you understand that that is their commitment that you honor their service, and simply tell those thanks.”
Each soldier in attendance was thanked for their service and their sacrifice as they are spending time on deployment in Germany and now in Poland.
The ceremony included Chaplain (Maj.) Kevin Thompson, 678th ADA BDE Chaplain asking for names of fallen comrades and friends to be offered up in remembrance.
He then followed with a prayer praying, “Father it brings great comfort and pride in our hearts to look back and think to the many years and many wars those men and women who felt that call. Who made the decision to step up to the plate, to do what they did. And to know many of them never made it back home. They never made it back to a demobilization station, their families were never there to welcome them home on the bus or plane, but simply their remains.”
“Father God, draw us back to the real meaning as we are trying to do today, and help the people across this land realize the very fact they can get in their car, on any given day and go where they want to go, do what they want to do cross any border in the US,” added Thompson. “Being able to get up on a Sunday morning, worship anywhere they want to worship. Any denomination that they want to, that all of that came with a price, for those men and women that stood up to the plate.”
The United States National Anthem, the Army song, as well as a moment of silence while Taps (Bugle Call) was played.
“Continually renew the spirit of involvement, exemplified by those that made the highest sacrifice and the service reflected in the kind and good acts of those Southern ladies decorating Union graves. We will move forward with the grand flow of American heritage, from the idea that mankind should live free, for liberty exercised by freemen and women,” concluded Cassel.
| Date Taken: | 05.28.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2018 09:54 |
| Story ID: | 278611 |
| Location: | PL |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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