Photo By Sgt. Scyrrus Corregidor | FORT CARSON, Colo. — A memorial display honors 13 fallen service members who died...... read more read more
By Spc. Scyrrus Corregidor
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Fort Carson spouses and veterans came together to honor fallen service members Aug. 31, 2021, with a memorial near Gate 1 at Fort Carson.
The memorial display honored the 13 service members who died Aug. 26 during the attack near the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, including a Soldier, a Sailor and 11 Marines.
“My husband was actually friends with (Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, 8th PSYOP Group) … and I knew that it was hard for him. You could definitely tell that he was struggling,” said Rachel Saxton, spouse of Sgt. Zachary L. Tepfer, with 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Saxton said she saw other military installations with memorial boot displays and wanted to create a similar display at Fort Carson. She used the Fort Carson Army Spouses Facebook page to reach out to the community for help organizing the memorial.
“I had quite a few women say that they would like to help,” Saxton said.
Community members shared their support by donating supplies and volunteering their time to set up the display. One veteran who reached out was Ashley Boyette, a Marine Corps veteran and spouse of Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Boyette, 1st Bn., 68th Armor Reg., 3rd ABCT, who is also a former Marine.
“Hearing the news about our Marine Corps brothers and sisters really hit home,” Boyette said. “I just had to do something in honor all of those brave men and women who lost their lives.”
The memorial display included boots wrapped in black ribbons; red, white and blue flowers in the right boot and a beverage in the left boot; a plaque with each service member’s name and branch; a U.S. flag and a metal star-shaped U.S. flag; as well as framed photos of each service member.
Boyette explained the significance of each item displayed at the memorial with the boots representing the U.S. service members on the ground in Afghanistan.
“Our service members lost their lives while in the process of helping others,” Boyette said.
The American flag represented the service members and the black ribbon depicted mourning for the losses. While the plaque displayed the name and branch of each service member, the photo reminded the community of each of their faces.
“These fallen service members were sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, a soon-to-be father and someone special,” Boyette said.
The flowers are red, white and blue to show pride for the country and to honor the fallen. Lastly, the beverages offered “cheers” and a final farewell to the fallen.
Saxton said Fort Carson community members and Families were touched by the memorial and tagged her in social media posts.
Boyette said they have received so much positive feedback, and the community feels blessed that the memorial was created.
“Thank you to the ladies who (helped with the memorial display) … It’s a beautiful tribute … when a life is lost, we all feel it,” said Tiffany Audette, spouse of a Soldier with 2nd Battalion, 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade.
| Date Taken: | 08.31.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2021 10:07 |
| Story ID: | 407786 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 29 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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