Courtesy Photo | Major General Tom Carden, Georgia’s Adjutant General and Command Sgt. Major Roy...... read more read more
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The Georgia Department of Defense held its annual Memorial Day observance at the Clay National Guard Center May 23, 2019. Major General Tom Carden, Georgia’s Adjutant General, presided over the ceremony held at the Memorial Wall which honors 42 Fallen Soldiers from Georgia National Guard units who fell since September 11, 2001.
“I am particularly humbled on days like today when I struggle to find the right words to honor a sacrifice I can’t fully comprehend, to attempt to comfort grieving families while simultaneously offering hope to those left behind who carry the mantle of freedom,” said Carden during his keynote address. “The reality is, those words don’t exist. However, our actions can demonstrate honor for our fallen when mere words fall short.”
Featured speakers included retired State Command Sgt. Major James Nelson, chairman of the Freedom Calls Memorial Foundation who recounted the history of Memorial Day and Command Sgt. Major Roy Marchert, senior enlisted advisor of the Ga. DoD who recited Flanders Fields by Lt. Col. John McCrae. Major William Carraway, historian of the Georgia Army National Guard, provided historical context by sharing anecdotes of fallen Georgia National Guard Soldiers from World War I and World War II.
“On June 6, we will observe the 75th Anniversary of D Day,” said Carraway. “Seven Georgia Guard battalions participated in the Normandy campaign, including those of the 121st Infantry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment, whose Soldiers are currently overseas on their fourth combat deployment since the attacks of September 11, 2001.”
In addition to honoring the 42 fallen from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, this year’s ceremony also featured a display of images and biographical sketches of the Georgia Guard’s fallen service members from World War I and II as well as the present conflicts.
“Just as a picture is worth a thousand words, the faces you see on the wall before you speak volumes,” said Carraway. “They speak of honor, selfless service and of shared sacrifices that have been borne by generations of service members and their families.”
Major General Carden and Command Sgt. Major Marchert placed a wreath before the memorial wall, then rendered honors as the names of those Soldiers whose images are enshrined on the wall were recited.
“Days like today allow us to get in touch with the fact that there is a tremendous human cost associated with freedom. Days like today give us the opportunity to honor our fallen and their families,” said Carden.”
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2019 19:36 |
| Story ID: | 323828 |
| Location: | MARIETTA, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 151 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Georgia National Guard Honors Its Fallen Service Members From WWI to the Present, by Desiree Bamba, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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