Photo By Sgt. Isaih Vega | The Fallen Soldiers’ Table Memorial is displayed at the Mark LaRochelle Warrior...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, CO -- Fallen Soldiers from the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), were memorialized in a ceremony by families, friends, and fellow Soldiers on May 19, 2023, at the 10th SFG(A) compound, in Fort Carson, Colorado.
As part of the ceremony, Families placed special items of their Soldier and put them in a time capsule. The time capsule was then stored inside the 10th Group Trojan Horse Fallen Soldier Memorial near the headquarters building. For the 2023 ceremony, the Originals honored twelve Soldiers whose Families were present for the ceremony.
The Originals also planted a legacy tree, a way to reflect on the commitment and selflessness of the fallen Soldiers. 10th SFG(A) Command Sergeant Major., Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin P. Dorsh, noted that this tradition will continue in the years to come.
“As the roots of those trees grow, so will the relationships between you and the family members of this group,” Dorsh said.
Will and Candice Thomas, parents of Green Beret Staff Sgt. Adam S. Thomas, made the trip from Minnesota to witness the ceremony and honor their son. Several other Families also made the trip and participated in event activities. The Thomas Family chose a personal letter, the book "Moby Dick", and a photo to be placed in the 10th Group Trojan Horse Fallen Soldier Memorial.
The ceremony concluded with a distinguished guest lunch for the families, followed by a memorial tour where the families had the opportunity to see the compound their Soldier worked in.
The Thomas Family described seeing the Fallen Soldiers’ Table Memorial for the first time after their son had passed, in which a dining seat is set for all of the fallen Soldiers, with cutlery and a dinner plate thoughtfully placed.
“The first time we saw something like this, his sisters and us, we just bawled our eyes out,” Mrs. Thomas said. “He never liked to see anyone eating alone.”
Mrs. Thomas said her son was a brilliant, fearless, and compassionate man.
“If he saw someone getting bullied, he would get some bigger kids to join him and try to stand up for the one getting bullied,” Mrs. Thomas said.
Many of the families keep in contact with each other, including the Thomas Family and the Phister family, who have also lost a Soldier, Green Beret Master Sgt. Joseph “Joey” Phister, who passed away on March 29, 2021. His father spoke fondly of his son and said his favorite bar was “Rookies Taphouse and Eatery” in Fountain, Colorado.
Commander of 10th SFG(A), Col. Lucas Vanantwerp, stated that the fallen Soldiers would not want their friends and Families to lead lives of sadness. Rather, they would want them to live full-measure lives instead. A life lived to the fullest.
Vanantwerp followed this up with a question. “Are you living a full-measure life? Or a half- measure life?” he asked. “If there’s anything we owe our fallen today, it’s serene commitment to live our lives to the fullest.”
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 05.29.2023 20:30 |
| Story ID: | 445622 |
| Location: | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 188 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Choosing to Remember, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Hosts Memorial Day Ceremony, by SGT David Cordova, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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